University of La Verne Lobbies to Halt Proposed Cal Grants Cuts

Students and administrators from the University of La Verne lobbied in the state Capitol on Tuesday in support of Cal Grants, which could face serious cuts to private university students under a budget proposal.

University of La Verne President Devorah Lieberman, Financial Aid Director Diane Anchundia and Special Assistant to the President Phil Hawkey joined students David Asbra, Mirrella Bautista and Jedaun Carter in Sacramento for the trip.

“The legislators seemed fairly receptive. Some were very outwardly supportive,” said Asbra, President of the Associated Students of the University of La Verne.

Around 60 students from private universities across the state attended the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities’ Day at the Capitol to urge Gov. Jerry Brown to reconsider a proposed 11 percent cut to Cal Grants at private and nonprofit institutions. The cut will affect new students if it passes.

President Lieberman praised students for their efforts in Sacramento during the State of the University Address on Wednesday.

“I cannot express how impressed I was with these students talking to their legislators,” she said.

While students spoke in the Capitol, administrators urged the campus community to reach out to local legislators and express the importance of Cal Grant funding for private universities.

The 2015-16 budget calls for increases in Cal Grant funding for public universities, but thousands of private-university students across the state could face a proposed 11 percent cut to Cal Grants for private and nonprofit institutions. There were approximately 28,000 private-university Cal Grant recipients in 2014.

At La Verne, $8 million in Cal Grant A funds were awarded to students in the 2014-15 school year. An 11 percent cut would have meant a decrease of $884,000 of that amount. The average amount in Cal Grant funding a student received during this time was $9,146. The proposed cut would have brought it to $8,140.

Asbra said he met with legislators or their representatives, including a representative of Senator Carol Liu’s office during the trip. Liu, Chair of the Education Committee, is a staunch supporter of college students, her representative told Asbra.

“The trip went really well,” he said.