Five College Presidents to Decry Congressional Efforts to Raid Student Aid Will Call Proposed Cuts Worst Since Mid-1990s

What: Conference call press conference with five presidents of .U. S. colleges and universities who will heavily criticize the large cuts in federal higher education programs Congress will be considering this week or next. These reductions, which the university presidents will say are the largest since the proposed Newt Gingrich-led congressional budgets of the mid-1990s, will do extreme harm to student across the country.

 

Who: The five college presidents who will participate in this conference call press conference are: Douglas Bennett, Earlham College Michael McCall, Kentucky Community and Technical College System David Shi, Furman University William Troutt, Rhodes College John Welty, California State University - Fresno All of the college presidents will make brief statements and respond to questions.

 

Why: The budget reconciliation bill the House and Senate will be voting on this week or next includes large reductions in federal higher education assistance. In fact, student loans will take the biggest hit if the budget cuts proposed by Congress are enacted. These college presidents, who are on the front lines in making higher education possible, will explain why these cuts must be rejected, and the extraordinary damage they will have on students and the long-term national interest if they are enacted

 

When: Tuesday, October 25, 11 to 11:45 a.m.

 

To Participate: Call-In Number, (800) 362-6392; Conference ID: "Student Aid"

 

Contacts:

 

Patricia Pincus, (202) 434-0607, patricia.pincus@fd.com