BHEF joins broad coalition of education groups to support “Save Pell Day”

Releases policy brief on Pell Grant Program

Washington, DC (July 25, 2011) — BHEF has joined with The Education Trust and a broad coalition of education groups to support Save Pell Day on Monday, July 25th.  Today, advocates across the country will use e-mail and social media to get the attention of policymakers, and to stand up for the nearly 10 million hard-working students who rely on Pell to afford college. 

The Business-Higher Education Forum (BHEF) today released a policy brief on preserving the Pell Grant Program, a critical source of grant aid for low-and moderate-income students. The brief argues that preserving the Pell Grant Program is imperative for the nation to compete in a global economy.

On July 14th, BHEF released its official statement on the Pell Grant Program, approved by BHEF members and shared with President Obama, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and members of Congress, urging lawmakers to oppose disproportionate cuts to Pell and to refrain from using reductions from other Title IV programs to save Pell. Both actions will increase barriers to college access and success for low-income students.

“BHEF members are committed to working with this country’s leaders to improve education attainment and workforce alignment.  The Pell Grant Program is a vital mechanism to achieve this goal—and we believe we must work together to support those students who have the fewest resources to help themselves.  As a nation, we can ill afford to jeopardize our future competitiveness by losing valuable human capital." said Brian K. Fitzgerald, BHEF’s Chief Executive Officer.

BHEF will continue to play an active role in preserving the Pell Grant Program in order to protect this critical investment in postsecondary education.