The Iowa Student Tuition Grant offers up to $4,000 a year for Iowa residents attending Iowa private colleges.
State funds have been dwindling, restricting the amount of money students are able to receive. This year, the maximum amount is $3,500.
The Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities has met with state legislators to appeal for a $5 million increase to the Iowa Student Tuition Grant fund.
To help protect and possibly expand this funding to more students, President Christy, Anderson and two Northwestern students, seniors Brian Brandau and Amber Maloney, attended an IAICU meeting to meet with area legislators and share their stories.
“I doubt that if I would have attended a state university I would have had half of the experiences that I have had here at NW,” Maloney said.
“Last year, [the IAICU] did not appeal for more money due to the down economy,” said NW’s financial aid director Eric Anderson. “This year, we are being more aggressive.”
However, the additional money is no guarantee. Lobbying is important in the process of making more money available for students.
“When legislators meet the people who are affected, it changes the dynamic,” Anderson said. “It gives the legislators more momentum to defend private colleges.”
