Higher education: financial aid; certain requirements pertaining to tuition grants; modify. Amends title & secs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 of 1966 PA 313 (MCL 390.991 et seq.).
Impact
If enacted, SB 720 will significantly influence the administration of tuition grants within the state. The Michigan higher education assistance authority will be tasked with administering these grants, with an emphasis on prioritizing full-time students. The bill also places restrictions on the types of programs eligible for funding, explicitly excluding theological and religious education programs from receiving financial aid. This shift may lead to increased enrollment in eligible institutions that focus on skilled trades, potentially addressing workforce shortages in these areas.
Summary
Senate Bill 720 aims to amend the 1966 PA 313, which establishes tuition grants for resident students attending independent nonprofit institutions of higher learning in Michigan. The bill redefines the eligibility criteria for educational institutions and expands the scope to include certain nonprofit institutions that offer career-oriented skilled trades instruction in maritime trades. The goal is to foster higher education among residents by providing financial support to eligible students attending these institutions.
Contention
A notable aspect of SB 720 is the financial evaluation criterion used to determine the grant amount for eligible students. The bill stipulates that the grants should not exceed the reported tuition and fees of the institutions, and in cases where funds are limited, a maximum grant level will be established. This raises concerns among advocates about whether the available funding will adequately meet the needs of all qualified applicants, especially in the wake of rising tuition costs across educational institutions.
Higher education: tuition; Michigan tuition grant program; modify to permit grants to be awarded to individuals incarcerated in correctional facilities. Amends secs. 2 & 3 of 1966 PA 313 (MCL 390.992 & 390.993).
Higher education: tuition; Michigan tuition grant program; modify to permit grants to be awarded to individuals incarcerated in correctional facilities. Amends secs. 2 & 3 of 1966 PA 313 (MCL 390.992 & 390.993).
Higher education: financial aid; eligibility requirements for state competitive scholarships; modify. Amends sec. 2 & 4 of 1964 PA 208 (MCL 390.972 & 390.974).
Higher education: tuition; Michigan tuition grant program; modify to permit grants to be awarded to individuals incarcerated in correctional facilities. Amends secs. 2 & 3 of 1966 PA 313 (MCL 390.992 & 390.993).
Higher education: tuition; Michigan tuition grant program; modify to permit grants to be awarded to individuals incarcerated in correctional facilities. Amends secs. 2 & 3 of 1966 PA 313 (MCL 390.992 & 390.993).
Appropriations: higher education; appropriations for fiscal year 2025-2026; provide for. Amend secs. 236 & 241 of 1979 PA 94 (MCL 388.1836 & 388.1841).