GOVERNOR WANTS TO CAP PROMISE SCHOLARSHIPS

(02/26/2009)

Gov. Joe Manchin is proposing a cap on merit-based Promise Scholarships. The Promise Scholarships pay tuition and fees for students at state schools and a comparable amount at private schools. Manchin wants a $4,500 cap imposed to hold down the program's costs, saying something has to be done to control costs. Calhoun had nine Promise scholars in 2008, among the lowest in WV counties, due to low population and student enrollment. Since 2002, the program has quadrupled its budget, to $42.3 million this year, well above the $27 million officials initially estimated it would cost to fund four groups of scholars. University of Charleston President Ed Welch has criticized the Promise program, calling it a welfare program for well-to-do families. Attempts to control program costs by increasing academic requirements likely had the unintended effect of reducing the number of low-income students in the program. Costs vary widely at schools. Current tuition and fees at West Virginia University are $5,100 per year while costs at private colleges are usually higher. Costs and fees at the University of Charleston are $11,575 per semester.

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