Portsmouth Herald - Shaheen Talks Education Funding with Seacoast Students

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Portsmouth Herald - Shaheen Talks Education Funding with Seacoast Students
By: Jennifer Feals

Past college students and graduates shared their challenges and concerns over funding with Jeanne Shaheen, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, on Thursday, Aug. 7.

The group of approximately 10 students and graduates from schools including the University of New Hampshire and the University of Pennsylvania, met with New Hampshire's former governor at the Great Bay Community College campus in Stratham.

Shaheen, who is expected to face Republican one-term incumbent Sen. John Sununu in the general election in November, told students the state has a senator for whom education is not a priority and she hopes to change that.

Costs for higher education have risen 80 percent in the last 10 years, Shaheen said, while the support and help students receive has not kept up with. In 2006, 71 percent of the state's graduates were burdened with debt, she said, at an average of $24,800 — the second highest average in the country.

"It makes it very difficult to get out of school, get a job and pay off these debts," Shaheen said.

Increases in the cost of education in New Hampshire did not just start 10 years ago, however. When Shaheen took office as New Hampshire's governor in 1997, in-state tuition and fees at UNH totaled $5,889. When she left office in 2003, it had risen 47 percent to $8,664, according to the New Hampshire Postsecondary Education Commission. Since 2003, it has jumped another 36 percent to the 2008-09 level of $11,756.

Clearly, the cost of education is rising in spite of which party holds office. Shaheen has made it one of her top campaign issues.

UNH graduate Amanda Nadeau said she was "slammed" with monthly student loan payments after recently graduating. "I didn't expect it at all," she said.

Nadeau, who graduated with a major in psychology, is now working two jobs to keep up with her payments while trying to figure out what work she would like to do long term.

"Senior year (in high school) was the most stressful time of my life, applying for more scholarships than you can imagine," said UNH sophomore Kaley Smith of Manchester.

Among her priorities if elected as senator, Shaheen said she wants to increase the cap in federal guarantee of student loans, simplify and expand tuition tax credits and expand loan forgiveness for graduates working in public service.

"I've heard too many students who couldn't choose the career they were interested in because they were afraid they couldn't pay off their debts," Shaheen said. "So this is a real issue for students affecting not just you, but the needs we have in New Hampshire and our work force to do the jobs we need to be competitive globally and in this economy."

Marcy Borak, a UNH graduate now working as a social worker, said she has been paying off student loans for the last four years "and probably will be for the next 30." Borak said she would like to return to school to earn a doctorate or masters degree, but said, "there's no way to go back, pay off loans, work and juggle all that."

As governor, Shaheen said she put forth a college tuition savings plan, established the Granite State Scholarship Program and increased funding for university system and community colleges.

Sununu responded to Shaheen's accusations regarding his educational priorities. Sununu voted to pass the Higher Education Reauthorization and College Opportunity Act of 2008 on Aug. 1. "The act will increase Pell Grant levels, simplify financial aid forms and provide easier access to tuition information," Sununu said.

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