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Students Participate in Harrisburg Lobby Day

In the State Capitol for Student Lobby Day were Matt Nied, associate coordinator of student activities, Dr. Rosalie Mirenda, president, and four students: Noelle Stack, Amanda Lau, Jaclyn Giallombardo, and Anthony Sherman.

More than 150 students from 35 private colleges and universities participated in a noon press conference in the Capitol Rotunda during the annual Student Lobby Day on Tuesday, April 8. The group included Jaclyn Giallombardo, Amanda Lau, Anthony Sherman and Noelle Stack from Neumann College.

The participants were in the Capitol visiting with their local legislators.  The event, organized by the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP), helps to focus the attention of state legislators on the contributions and needs of private colleges and universities and their students.

In visits with State Representatives Bill Adolph, Stephen Barrar and Michael Peifer, and State Senators Ted Erickson and Domenic Pileggi, Neumann students shared their personal experiences and concerns as well as important facts regarding private higher education in Pennsylvania. For instance, according to AICUP, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) is by far the largest state program that contributes to private college and university students. Student lobbyists told legislators that significant reductions in PHEAA grants could cause students and their families to consider delaying college or eliminating it from their plans, transferring, or attending part time.

PHEAA Board Chairman Rep. William Adolph (R-Delaware) and AICUP Board Chairman Dr. Brian Mitchell (President of Bucknell University) spoke at the noon press conference and assured the students of their commitment to advocate for increases in the state budget.

4/11/08