Alabama’s private colleges officially endorsed Gov. Bob Riley’s tax and accountability plan Aug. 13 after weeks of debate about the exclusion of independent colleges from the plan’s scholarship program. But the college presidents did not forget their concerns. They also adopted resolutions concerning the proposed scholarship program and funding for private college students.
During the meeting of the Council for the Advancement of Private Colleges in Alabama (CAPCA), three resolutions were unanimously adopted. The first one endorsed the tax plan. The second one called for private colleges to be included in the scholarship program. And the third one called for “full funding of the Alabama Students Grant Program.”
Ginny Bugg, president of CAPCA, said the college presidents serve as CAPCA’s board of directors and passed the three statements as CAPCA, not as individual college presidents.
‘Coalition of spirit’
“As a group it demonstrates a very firm coalition of spirit and common cause,” said Mark Foley, president of the University of Mobile. “It also asks to see something occur that should already have occurred.”
Under Gov. Riley’s tax plan, known as the Plan for Progress, a college scholarship plan exists that would be merit-based. It would provide college tuition for students who achieve academic excellence. Requirements for eligibility would include a 3.0 grade point average, an ACT score of 20 or higher and completion of 18.5 core units.
In the proposal, which goes to the voters Sept. 9, students attending private colleges are not eligible for the scholarships. A group of college presidents met with Gov. Riley, and he has pledged to address the issue in a special session of the Legislature if the plan passes.
Seeking inclusion
Foley is hopeful the official request for private colleges to be included in the scholarship program, as well as the group’s support of the tax plan, will strengthen their plea. “It is basically the same thing we have been saying all along, we need to be a part of the deal,” he said.
Bugg added that the grant program is a “tuition equalization” grant benefiting Alabama residents who attend private colleges.
“The program gives a stipend to every student who is a resident of Alabama and is attending a private college at least half-time,” she said, noting the program has been in effect since 1979 but has never been fully funded.
While funding is authorized for up to $1,200, it usually averages about $600, Bugg explained.
“We think it is important to have both because a different set of students would qualify for each, and each college would have a different makeup of those sets of students,” Bugg said.
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