UMaine Official Makes Case to Congress for Increased Funding for College Preparation Programs and Student Financial Aid
Contact: Kimberly Johnston at (207) 581-1570; Joe Carr at (207) 581-3571
ORONO — Kimberly Johnston , interim co-director of admissions at the University of Maine and president of the New England Association for College Admission Counseling, traveled to Washington, DC, March 1-2, 2004, to urge Congress to support federal funds for student access to higher education. She was one of 110 elected and appointed leaders of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) who attended the association’s annual legislative conference, designed to leverage citizen participation on behalf of programs intended to ensure equal access to college for all students.
Johnston met with Congressman Thomas Allen and staff members for Senator Susan Collins and Congressman Michael Michaud to urge the Maine delegation to support increased funding for student financial aid and college preparation programs under the Higher Education Act, which is set to be reauthorized in 2004. High on NACAC’s agenda were increased funding for need-based student aid grants (like the Pell grant), increased funding for early college awareness programs (like GEAR UP and TRIO), and continued enforcement of the federal law prohibiting incentive-based compensation in college admission and recruiting, where recruiters are paid based on the number of students who enroll.
Speakers at the conference included Representatives Ric Keller of Florida’s 8th Congressional District and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland’s 8th Congressional District, both of whom serve on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. For more information about NACAC or its positions on the Higher Education Act, contact David Hawkins, director of public policy, 1631 Prince Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-2818, (703) 299-6809.
About NACAC: NACAC is an Alexandria, VA-based education association of more than 8,000 primary and secondary school counselors, independent counselors, college admission and financial aid officers, enrollment managers, and organizations that work with students as they make the transition from high school to postsecondary education. The association is committed to maintaining high standards that foster ethical and social responsibility among those involved in the transition process, as outlined in the NACAC Statement of Principles of Good Practice. For more information about NACAC, visit www.nacac.com.