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In response to the recent announcement by the White House budget office regarding a freeze on federal financial aid programs, University of Puerto Rico (UPR) President Luis Ferrao Delgado announced on Wednesday a strategy aimed at protecting scholarships, student loans and work-study programs under Title IV of the U.S. Higher Education Act.
Later in the day, the White House rescinded an order that froze up to trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans and sparked mass confusion across the country, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the matter and documentation obtained by The New York Times.
Ferrao said the U.S. Department of Education had preliminarily indicated that the freeze on funds would not affect these forms of aid. However, the communication also mentions that they were assessing the final impact of the decision.
“Given this uncertainty, we remain vigilant about any developments that may affect federal assistance and are prepared to establish a coordinated strategy with the university community to protect these funds,” Ferrao said.
A significant proportion of students in the UPR system rely on Title IV allocations to complete their higher education.
“In Puerto Rico, where poverty levels are notably higher than in the states, Pell Grants and other Title IV aid are essential for accessing quality education and serve as crucial tools for social mobility and economic development on our island,” Ferrao emphasized.
“We have been closely monitoring the situation with the relevant federal agencies and are developing necessary strategies to create a united plan before Congress, alongside other states, universities, the governor, and our university community,” he said. “Our main objective is to form a common front to advocate for what unites us as a people: the defense of a public and accessible university for all Puerto Ricans.”
According to a memo issued Monday by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Education, would have until Feb. 10 to provide the office with detailed information on any program, project, or activity affected by the funding freeze.
