Officials say TEG cuts will do harm
By Brent Yarina
Staff Reporter

Rumors of an expected 20 percent cut in the Tuition Equalization Grant could mean the university will lose as much as $400,000 of funding next year, Director of Scholarships and Student Financial Aid Mike Scott said Tuesday.

Scott said the Texas legislature created the TEG in 1971 to help students from all socioeconomic backgrounds afford tuition at independent institutions of higher learning. He said the program has been granting qualified students up to $3,500 if they choose to attend TCU. Next year, Scott said, the amount of money awarded through these grants could be greatly decreased, depending on the significance of the cut.

He said the program is expected to be cut anywhere from 12.5 percent to 20 percent.

“This whole situation really frustrates me,” Scott said. “I’m disappointed that there has to be a cut, but we will make up for any losses to prevent cutbacks on any awards.”

Scott said he does not agree with the state’s decision to cut TEG grants, especially considering that the money saved from the grant will be used to increase funding for other grants. He said the state thinks these cuts are bettering higher education, when they are only benefiting public institutions.

With the money saved from cutting TEG funds, he said, the state hopes to provide additional funding for the Texas Grant, which provides grants to students at public institutions.

Scott said as TEG funds decrease, the state fails to provide adequate funds for private colleges and universities.

“The state claims that by increasing the Texas Grant, it will make up for the money lost in the TEG, but it doesn’t,” he said. “The state is simply increasing money to a pool that TCU can’t ever spend to begin with because of Texas rules.”

Scott said providing additional funding to the Texas Grant fails to benefit the university because it reserves only 14 percent of its annual grants for private institutions.

“However you look at it, increased funding for the Texas Grant doesn’t come close to equaling what the university will lose from the TEG,” he said.

Larry Lauer, vice chancellor for marketing and communication, said the university will take a cut but that it won’t be too significant. He said there is no way to predict what this will do to financial aid, admissions or the university itself next year because the cut has not been finalized.

However, Lauer said, the university is working hard to limit the cut to 12.5 percent. He said the chancellor and other school officials are writing letters to their legislators, asking them to limit the TEG cut. Lauer said the officials are also encouraging students and parents to do the same.

Board of Trustees Chairman John Roach said a number of board members have displayed their opposition to the cut in TEG funds by participating in lobbying efforts.

“We have no control over this, it’s being done to us,” Roach said. “How it turns out remains to be seen. But we’re trying to make our best efforts to minimize the financial impact on TCU and its students.”

Brent Yarina