For the third time in less than a year, thousands of college students throughout South Florida and around the nation are worried about losing the crucial financial aid that helps them stay in school. A student might look at this and other recent developments and conclude that his or her dream of a college education could be in jeopardy. As Congress ramps up discussions on how to cut the federal budget, Pell Grants, which provide critical financial support to more than 66,000 students attending Miami-Dade County’s major colleges and universities, are on the chopping block again. At FIU, the number of students who qualify for Pell Grants has increased over the past few years and it is now approaching the 18,000 student mark — about 48 percent of undergraduate students. An additional 100,000 South Floridians use Pell Grants to attend colleges in Broward County, vocational schools and for-profit institutions.
