By University of California President Janet Napolitano recently made clear her commitment to higher education after pledging $15 million to thousands of UC students.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Napolitano agreed to give $5 million to UC students who entered the U.S. illegally and $10 million to graduate and postdoctoral researchers.
“I am setting aside $5 million — right now, for this year — to support these students with resources like trained advisors, student service centers and financial aid,” Napolitano said. “Consider this a down payment.”
The funds will come from extra reserves and not tuition or state revenues, according to the LA Times.
We support Napolitano’s commitment to helping out UC students, especially with an added benefit to this pledge: the money isn’t coming from taxpayers’ pockets.
Napolitano’s pledge will signify her commitment in trying to resolve an institutional issue
Because students who entered the country illegally cannot apply for federal financial aid, we think the $5 million pledge will greatly benefit undocumented UC students.
Depriving a student of federal financial aid because they entered the country illegally is a policy that needs reform.
Why should undocumented students be punished if they were brought into the U.S. by their parents?
Allowing for the implementation of student service centers and advisors dedicated to undocumented students is a step in the right direction.
All UC students should be treated equally, regardless of their background or citizenship status.
Napolitano’s pledge to undocumented students raises questions about why the federal government does not allow them to apply for financial aid.
We already know that some students mismanage or sometimes irresponsibly spend their federal student loan refunds.
With so much waste and excess in the federal loan system, it’s easy to see the entire system needs reforming.
Officials need to allow undocumented students to apply for federal aid to increase the system’s overall fairness.
While it’s unclear when Napolitano’s pledged funds will be disbursed to undocumented students, we hope the funds will be used effectively.
After all, every student—documented or not—can use a few extra bucks when it comes to paying tuition and fees.
