The Senate Higher Education Committee held a work session this morning focused on the Governor’s proposed 2010 supplemental budget for higher education and more specifically, the impacts to state financial aid programs.

Tim Yowell, Higher Education Fiscal Analyst for Senate Ways & Means and John Klacik, Director of Student Financial Assistance for the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) provided information to the Committee on the budget and state financial aid.

Yowell provided an overview and impact of the Governor’s proposed 2010 supplemental budget on higher education within the context of the reductions and tuition increases already in place.

Klacik also provided an overview of the impact on state financial aid to students. Klacik concluded with a philosophy that the HECB hopes the Legislature will take into account as they finalize the budget and move policy forward:

(1) Preserve current activities at reduced levels. Avoid suspending programs unless the goal is to permanently eliminate these programs;
(2) Give priority to need-based programs
(3) Understand that each program has levers and options that can be managed during these tight fiscal times
(4) Work with the HECB to determine options