Urge legislators to protect need-based financial aid for current students

Dear Jayhawk for Higher Education,

As the Kansas Legislature prepares to finalize the state budget during the wrap-up session that begins April 29, we’re asking for your help: Please encourage your legislators to protect the need-based scholarships of students currently enrolled at KU and the state’s other public universities.

In recent years, the Legislature and universities have increased funding for need-based financial aid for Kansas students. This important partnership contributed to KU’s successful recruitment of its largest freshman class in history last fall.

However, the preliminary budget approved by the Legislature earlier this month includes a new funding formula: Lawmakers want to divide ALL need-based scholarship funds 50-50 between the state’s public universities and private colleges and universities, even though private institutions enroll only 10% of all Kansas higher education students.

This split would mean that 800 students currently enrolled at KU and other public universities would lose their need-based financial aid—funds that they rely on to remain in school and complete their degrees.

Please contact your local representative and senator and urge them to safeguard these vital need-based scholarships for current students. We must help these promising young Kansans complete their education and join the state’s workforce.

Thanks, as always, for your advocacy.

Rock Chalk,

Douglas A. Girod
Chancellor, University of Kansas

Heath Peterson, d’04, g’09
President, KU Alumni Association

Interested in learning more about Jayhawks for Higher Education? Visit kualumni.org/jhe.