Although U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced in September that President George W. Bush would ask Congress for funds to help institutions of higher education affected by Hurricane Katrina, colleges and universities that have taken in affected students were not allocated funds in the $17 billion emergency spending plan Bush submitted to Congress Oct. 28.
The proposal announced by Spellings would have asked Congress for $227 million, which would have covered a portion of affected students' tuition at host institutions and deferred loan payments.
Many expected colleges and universities that took in hurricane victims to receive funds in an effort to alleviate the financial burden of enrolling students without charging them full tuition and room and board.
The University has waived tuition and academic fees for students from schools affected by Katrina but is charging room and board. According to University Spokesperson Carol Wood, the University currently is absorbing the costs of educating displaced students.
The University made the decision to waive tuition immediately after Gov. Mark R. Warner amended state policy that prohibited public institutions from waiving tuition, according to Director of Student Financial Services Yvonne Hubbard.
This decision, Hubbard said, was not necessarily based on the expectation that the government would step in to cover the lost revenue.
"You do what you think is right for the people involved at the moment and you go with it," Hubbard said.
Although no decisions have been made concerning Bush's proposed emergency spending plan, some said they are disappointed that colleges and universities are not being considered for funding under the relief measures.
None of the spending plans so far have allocated enough money to students or colleges and universities affected by the hurricane, said David Baime, vice president for government relations at the American Association of Community Colleges.
"There's interest in selective places, but there hasn't been any substantial funds provided thus far," Baime said.
The AACC has been working with other organizations and associations, including the United Negro College Fund and the National Association for Independent Colleges and Universities, to lobby Congress for more financial support for students and institutions of higher education, Baime added.
Congress has yet to vet the relief plan and may amend it. The Senate is expected to submit a plan in the near future.
"We are working to ensure that our institutions get funds and that students get some kind of assistance," Baime said. "We have continued lobbying. We think there are still opportunities for getting funds for higher education."
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