 |
| Wilson demands answer from Dep. of Ed. for UNM Valencia |
July 05, 2001 |
| |
| The Honorable Roderick Paige
Cabinet Secretary
United States Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue SW
Washington, D.C. 20202
Dear Secretary Paige,
I am very disappointed by the recent actions taken by the U.S. Department of Education in the handling of the University of New Mexico-Valencia Campus TRIO Grant-Student Support Services application. I have been informed that the grant was awarded and has since been withdrawn.
The campus is located in a rural area in which many of the residents meet the qualifications of low-income and first generation higher education students. This funding means that many more New Mexican’s will have the opportunity to attend the university, earn a degree, and have the tools to be successful in the workplace. The abrupt withdrawal of this grant has yanked the rug out from under the feet of many potential students in New Mexico. This is not the way the U.S. Department of Education should be run.
New Mexico’s high schools lose nearly a third of our students. That is simply unacceptable. Our community, as well as each level of government, has a responsibility to do everything possible to keep our kids in school and give them wings for their dreams. This responsibility does not change when students makes it to college and need the tools to become successful participants in our modern workforce. Many New Mexicans are dependent on programs such as this TRIO Grant.
As I understand it, having already announced that UNM-Valencia earned the award, officials at the Department of Education questioned whether UNM-Valencia is a different campus. They were informed that, while they meet all of the other criteria, because they do not have a separate federal financial aid participation agreement with your Department they do not qualify. Secretary Paige, we know of other universities that have been awarded this grant that have the same financial aid structure as UNM-Valencia. Furthermore, I understand this criteria is not spelled out anywhere in the application.
Now, after the Department of Education made its selection and publicly announced it, the rules change. That’s not right, and we both know that’s not right.
Secretary Paige, I urge you to review and reverse this error.
I have enclosed the materials provided to me by the UNM-Valencia Campus. I ask that you review this information and compare with the requirements for the grant and let me know your views by July 24, 2001 so that UNM-Valencia may proceed with its plans for the next academic year. A member of my staff will be in touch to offer any assistance my office can provide.
Sincerely,
Heather Wilson
Member of Congress |
|
|
|