PICAYUNE —
Many students in Mississippi receive some form of federal financial aid. The most common form of financial aid is the Pell Grant. These are need based grants based on the student’s family income. The United States Department of Education has a formula for determining the amount of the grant. The final legislation that gained approval this past summer included some changes that could have a significant impact on students.
The first change eliminated Ability to Benefit Students. An Ability to Benefit student is one that has not received a high school diploma or a GED but can demonstrate their ability to learn via testing or course completion. Past regulations, allowed a student that could learn at a college level to receive a Pell Grant to begin study in developmental and remedial courses. This is no longer the case. The student must have completed high school or a GED to receive an award.
A second major change is in the family income level. The maximum income allowed for a grant was lowered from $32,000 to $23,000; the Department of Education estimates that this would eliminate 12,000 students from the Pell program.
The third change removed the number of students that can receive the minimum Pell Grant of $555. The formula allowed a student that was eligible to receive between 5% and 10% of the maximum ($5,555) could receive $555. This has been eliminated which will remove approximately 3,000 Pell recipients.
The fourth and final change reduced the number of semesters that a student can receive a grant. In the past, 18 semesters was the maximum number of full time terms a student could receive a grant. This has been reduced to 12 full time semesters. This will remove an additional 63,000 students from the program.
While understanding all of these regulatory issues can be quite confusing, luckily Pearl River Community College and Mississippi’s other colleges and universities have financial aid offices that can help students navigate the financial aid system. Possibly the most important thing for students and parents to take from this is the fourth item above. It is important that a student take courses that are applicable to a degree from an early start. While it is often tough for a young person to determine what they want to do with their future, indecisiveness and taking courses that might not pertain to a degree can be costly. Students that choose a career plan and plot out their studies well be less likely to exhaust their funds before reaching graduation. These students will be more likely to fully realize their educational goals and make their dreams a reality.
Business
Changes in college grants
- Business
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- Dual Enrollment Practical Nursing Program available at PRCC Some students possess the maturity level and academic wherewithal to begin studying toward a fruitful career path while still in high school. It is no secret that many earn most of the necessary credits towards a high school diploma by the completion of the junior year of school; thus, requiring the student to attend high school for part of the school day during their senior year. Many students have jobs or extracurricular school activities, such as band or athletics, to help round out the day. However, those not in falling into these categories often ended up with a lot of free time; fortunately policy makers in Mississippi are finding ways to assist these students.
- Senators Burks Hill and Smith along with Representative Frierson panelists for Chamber Business Review The Greater Area Picayune Chamber of Commerce held a Legislative Review for the business community, at Char Southern Steakhouse, Monday at 5:30 p.m. Panelists included State Senator District 40 Angela Burks Hill, State Senator District 47 Tony Smith, and State Rep. Herb Frierson of Poplarville. All are Republican. They spoke on the past session and bills they either authored or helped pass which impact local and state businesses.
- Investing in the community one building at a time There is a bit of a renaissance occurring in Pearl River County. This is happening one building at a time. It seems to be happening rather quietly, but the end results are going to help shape the future of the county and the cities located here.
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Medical Group gives back to community
, Children’s International Medical Group is proud to announce the opening of their pediatric clinic in Picayune.
The clinic is one of many throughout La. and Miss. which brings compassionate care centered around pediatric patients and the community in which they live.
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Charter Bank names Westfall as VP
Charter Bank is pleased to announce the addition of Rich Westfall as vice president of business development and marketing. His responsibilities will be to lead business and community development and oversee all marketing efforts for the bank.
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Weak Oracle sales, Cyprus fears weigh on US stocks
Stocks closed lower on Wall Street Thursday after Oracle’s weak sales results weighed down big U.S. technology companies. Traders also worried about Cyprus running out of time to avoid bankruptcy.
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Mississippi REALTORS® hold annual REALTOR® Day at the Capitol
On Feb.7, 2013 Pearl River County REALTORS® joined more than 120 Mississippi REALTORS® at the Mississippi State Capitol to take part in REALTOR® Day at the Capitol.
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More than school board needs to be changed: Part 2
Dr. Scott Alsobrooks/Guest Columnist
At quick glance, it is easy to see that the Mississippi economy will only need about 25 percent of its workforce at the bachelor’s level or higher. Most jobs still require only a high school degree, but many well paying jobs will require some sort of 2 year degree or a post high school type credential such as a certificate in welding, carpentry or plumbing. -
HORNE LLP welcomes Picayune native as spring accounting intern
HORNE LLP, one of the top accounting and business advisory firms in the nation, recently welcomed Melissa Pigott of Picayune, Miss., as a spring accounting intern. A total of 26 accounting students were selected for the highly competitive internship program.
Pigott is a student at the University of Southern Mississippi and is completing her internship in assurance services in the Ridgeland, Miss., office location. -
More than school board needs to be changed: Part 1
By Dr. Scott Alsobrooks/Guest Columnist
The Senate Education Committee passed Bill 2141 recently. The bill is championed by local Senator Tony Smith. While the bill would not affect Pearl River Central Schools, it would change the Picayune and Poplarville School Districts from a mix of appointed and elected board members, to all elected. An amendment was put in the bill to require board members to have at least one year of college. - More Business Headlines
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