"Thousands of Michigan students attending private colleges and universities are now scrambling to replace thousands of dollars in scholarship money axed Monday (Sept. 30) by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Whitmer vetoed the money as part of her high-stakes duel with legislative Republicans over the state's budget for this fiscal year."—David Jesse, Detroit Free Press (Oct. 2, 2019)
Read the complete Detroit Free Press article here, published on Oct. 2, 2019
The Michigan Tuition Grant gives up to $2,400 per academic year to students attending independent colleges and universities within the state, including Concordia University Ann Arbor.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s decision to cut the aid supplied to low income and middle class families has affected over 200 CUAA students.
The funding has not yet been restored, but we are encouraging students and supporters to continue advocating.
Here is what you can do to let your voice be heard as we advocate to restore the Michigan Tuition Grant:
- Contact the governor’s office and ask that the funding be reinstated at the same level it was in her original budget recommendations
- Call and write your local senators and representatives if you live in Michigan
- List of Michigan senators
- List of Michigan representatives
- See below for an example letter than you could send
- Use social media to tag your local representatives and senator requesting they restore the Michigan Tuition Grant and use hashtags #SupportStudents #RestoreTheTuitionGrant
- Sign up to join Concordia at Student Action Day on December 4, 2019, in Lansing, Michigan. Click here to let CUAA leaders know you are interested in attending so that transportation can be coordinated.
- Event is free and transportation and lunch will be included
Those interested in financially supporting students affected by the loss of the Michigan Tuition Grant can visit www.cuaa.edu/give.
A special thank you to Michigan Independent Colleges and Universities for their organization of resources and tips for assisting institutions, like Concordia, to take the necessary steps toward restoring this important student funding.
Sample letter for write to the legislature (representatives and senators)
Dear Representative (or) Senator {insert name},
I am a student at Concordia University Ann Arbor studying {major/minor/etc.} and I live in your district. Because of the recent budget issues in Lansing I, and 17,000 of my fellow students in the state, lost out on a need-based student grant to help us pay for college. The Michigan Tuition Grant is a game changer for me because {insert personal story}.
We all enrolled in school this year under the promise that the tuition grant would be part of our financial aid and now we are left wondering how we will make it through the year.
Higher education means everything to me and my future. I know it does for other students as well. I also know that investing in education is an issue you care about so I am asking you to please do all you can to unite the Michigan Legislature and restore the Michigan Tuition Grant for thousands of college students relying on this support.
Sincerely,
{name}
Concordia University Ann Arbor, {expected graduation year}
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