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Doyle tries to bridge budget gap
Snared by stalemate
Budget impasse brings problems to some students
By Julie Becker
Daily News staff writer
Head bent over a book as she runs a hand through her youngest son's hair and helps the 8-year-old pronounce a tricky word on a typical day after school, it's clear Charlene Carswell is a devoted mom.
Her three sons certainly keep her busy, she said Thursday afternoon, but that's not the only role she has on her shoulders.
Carswell just began her second year at the University of Wisconsin-Rock County, where she is completing the first two years toward a bachelor's degree in nursing.
When she's not in class, studying or taking care of her family, she works about 32 hours per week between two jobs. Not surprisingly, juggling so much is hard, she said. And Wisconsin legislators aren't making it any easier.
Because of the unrelenting battle between the Democratic Senate and Republican Assembly in reaching an agreement on the state budget - with an initial deadline of July 1, it's nearly three months overdue - Carswell hasn't received the financial aid she normally relies on.
“I get this grant every year and it's a grant for higher education - people like me that work and have kids,” Carswell explained. “This year with the budget not being decided, those grants aren't being released. And they're basically telling us, ‘don't hold your breath.'”
About 46 students at UW-Rock County receive the Wisconsin Higher Education Grant (WHEG). They are among a total of 5,051 students throughout the entire UW System who are waiting for the pending funds, according to numbers released Sept. 12 by Wisconsin's Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB), which issues the grants.
The grants average about $2,100 and are issued to households with annual incomes of $27,000 or less, said David Giroux, Executive Director of Communications and External Relations for the UW System.
While the Senate and Joint Finance Committee approved increases in financial aid to HEAB in the 2007-09 budget, the Assembly voted in June to decrease its funding to less than what the board received under the current budget, causing the grants to get completely tied up, Giroux explained of the situation. And that's a big problem for many students, he added.
“Most students are sticking with it and taking out loans to cover the difference, and that's tragic, because these students are not in a position where they can afford to increase their debt,” Giroux said.
“That number of students is equal to the population of a small campus, and if only a fraction of those students drop out of college right now because of that delay, that would be tragic,” he added.
Carswell said she can't afford to take out a loan, though, and if she doesn't get her $1,500 in grant money, she doesn't know how she'll continue her education. At the same time, she can't afford to drop out, either.
“We go without a lot,” she said. “I know $1,500 doesn't sound like a lot to some people, but that $1,500 is two months rent and sometimes can be the difference between buying a new couch or paying a power bill.
“I have to graduate, you know - that's the way it has to be,” she added, which means she has to study and keep her grades up - something she believes would not be possible if she increased her work hours. “I'll make it no matter what. I'm going to survive, but somebody else out there may not have that attitude, and this could be their breaking point.”
Even when students don't drop out, dealing with a shortage of financial aid still makes it harder for them to finish their degrees, said UW-Rock County Assistant Dean of Student Services Steve Ullrick.
“When students don't receive that (money), some of them are probably working more and that really makes it tough for them to be successful in school, especially if they're going full time,” Ullrick said.
For her part, Carswell just wants to send the message out that the budget isn't just about numbers - it's about real people. She hopes that's enough to make the legislature speed up the budget process.
“I just want them (legislators) to realize, these are your everyday Joe taxpayers that you're penalizing,” Carswell said.
“You don't always realize where all the school funding goes,” she added. “I think it's important they do realize it's affecting not just a university as a whole, but it may affect every student that goes there.”
Budget impasse brings problems to some students
By Julie Becker
Daily News staff writer
Head bent over a book as she runs a hand through her youngest son's hair and helps the 8-year-old pronounce a tricky word on a typical day after school, it's clear Charlene Carswell is a devoted mom.
Her three sons certainly keep her busy, she said Thursday afternoon, but that's not the only role she has on her shoulders.
Carswell just began her second year at the University of Wisconsin-Rock County, where she is completing the first two years toward a bachelor's degree in nursing.
When she's not in class, studying or taking care of her family, she works about 32 hours per week between two jobs. Not surprisingly, juggling so much is hard, she said. And Wisconsin legislators aren't making it any easier.
Because of the unrelenting battle between the Democratic Senate and Republican Assembly in reaching an agreement on the state budget - with an initial deadline of July 1, it's nearly three months overdue - Carswell hasn't received the financial aid she normally relies on.
“I get this grant every year and it's a grant for higher education - people like me that work and have kids,” Carswell explained. “This year with the budget not being decided, those grants aren't being released. And they're basically telling us, ‘don't hold your breath.'”
About 46 students at UW-Rock County receive the Wisconsin Higher Education Grant (WHEG). They are among a total of 5,051 students throughout the entire UW System who are waiting for the pending funds, according to numbers released Sept. 12 by Wisconsin's Higher Educational Aids Board (HEAB), which issues the grants.
The grants average about $2,100 and are issued to households with annual incomes of $27,000 or less, said David Giroux, Executive Director of Communications and External Relations for the UW System.
While the Senate and Joint Finance Committee approved increases in financial aid to HEAB in the 2007-09 budget, the Assembly voted in June to decrease its funding to less than what the board received under the current budget, causing the grants to get completely tied up, Giroux explained of the situation. And that's a big problem for many students, he added.
“Most students are sticking with it and taking out loans to cover the difference, and that's tragic, because these students are not in a position where they can afford to increase their debt,” Giroux said.
“That number of students is equal to the population of a small campus, and if only a fraction of those students drop out of college right now because of that delay, that would be tragic,” he added.
Carswell said she can't afford to take out a loan, though, and if she doesn't get her $1,500 in grant money, she doesn't know how she'll continue her education. At the same time, she can't afford to drop out, either.
“We go without a lot,” she said. “I know $1,500 doesn't sound like a lot to some people, but that $1,500 is two months rent and sometimes can be the difference between buying a new couch or paying a power bill.
“I have to graduate, you know - that's the way it has to be,” she added, which means she has to study and keep her grades up - something she believes would not be possible if she increased her work hours. “I'll make it no matter what. I'm going to survive, but somebody else out there may not have that attitude, and this could be their breaking point.”
Even when students don't drop out, dealing with a shortage of financial aid still makes it harder for them to finish their degrees, said UW-Rock County Assistant Dean of Student Services Steve Ullrick.
“When students don't receive that (money), some of them are probably working more and that really makes it tough for them to be successful in school, especially if they're going full time,” Ullrick said.
For her part, Carswell just wants to send the message out that the budget isn't just about numbers - it's about real people. She hopes that's enough to make the legislature speed up the budget process.
“I just want them (legislators) to realize, these are your everyday Joe taxpayers that you're penalizing,” Carswell said.
“You don't always realize where all the school funding goes,” she added. “I think it's important they do realize it's affecting not just a university as a whole, but it may affect every student that goes there.”
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