Already some colleges are warning that the financial situation may affect need-blind admissions; that is, they’ll be admitting fewer students who need hefty financial aid packages. History dictates that when the economy sours for others, it spoils for African- Americans. Dr. Michael Lomax, head of the United Negro College Fund, certainly fears the worse.
“At most historically Black schools, 70 to 80 percent of students are low income and Pell (Grant) eligible. They have to take on extra jobs just to close the financial aid gap and now it’s just going to be harder to do that. I think we’re going to start seeing retention slip in the spring semester,” he says.
We applaud institutions that, in the face of their own financial hardships, are maintaining their commitment to lowincome students by awarding more financial aid to keep struggling students in school. At the same time, we’ll be watching closely as colleges and universities grapple with increasingly challenging budget shortfalls that will dictate tough choices. Let’s make sure student and staff diversity isn’t sacrificed in the process.
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