Senators Stabenow, Peters Announce Support to Help Eastern Michigan University Students Graduate

Michigan Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters today announced $366,640 to give Eastern Michigan University students, many of whom are the first in their family to go to college, coaching and skill development so they have a better shot at graduating. A portion of this support, which is available through the Department of Education's TRIO Student Support Services Program, will specifically help the university meet the needs of veterans. The TRIO Student Support Services Program helps low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities graduate college.

"Students who work hard and are accepted to college deserve every opportunity to succeed," said Stabenow. "Thanks to today's announcement, more Eastern Michigan University students - including veterans - will get tutoring, financial aid counseling, and other support they need to finish school."

"Higher education is a pathway to economic opportunity and a strong future, and we must ensure that the dream of completing a degree is within reach for Michigan students-especially our veterans who have served our country and need our support as their return to civilian life," Peters said. "This assistance will help Eastern Michigan University create a program to meet the unique needs of student veterans, as well as work with low-income and first generation college students to help them successfully finish their programs and start their careers."

Senator Stabenow is a strong supporter of making sure that all students who work hard to get into college are given tools and resources to succeed. In April, Senator Stabenow introduced the Early Pell Promise Act, which guarantees two years of Pell Grants for qualifying middle school students to help boost college enrollment and college completion rates.

Increasing higher education access and affordability for all Michiganders is a top priority for Senator Peters. Senator Peters introduced the bipartisan FAIR Student Credit Act to help private student loan borrowers rehabilitate defaulted loans and remove the default from their credit report after making a series of on-time payments. Earlier this year, he also helped introduce the Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act, legislation to allow borrowers with outstanding student loan debt to refinance at lower interest rates available to new borrowers.