Federal budget cuts would devastate Suffolk CCC students

At Suffolk County Community College, we see the effects of federal policy decisions not as abstract concepts, but as real consequences for local students and their families. From changes in financial aid to funding cuts, the latest proposals in Washington will negatively affect access, opportunity and success at levels too significant to ignore.

Need-based financial aid grants are essential to ensuring all students have an opportunity to obtain a college degree or workforce credential. Our students often juggle work and family responsibilities along with their commitment to education, and many can only attend school part-time.

Changes to federal financial aid passed by the House and now with the Senate would redefine full-time eligibility for Pell grants from 12 credits to 15. This would have a profound impact on Suffolk students. In fall 2024, Suffolk disbursed approximately $16.2 million in Pell grants to 5,629 students. Of these, 42% were enrolled for 12 to 14.5 credit hours, with 1,728 receiving the maximum award. Under the proposed redefinition, these 1,728 students could each lose about $1,500 — a collective loss of $2.59 million.

The same bill also eliminates Pell grants for students enrolled less than halftime, impacting hundreds of students each semester, making it harder for many students to attend and succeed in college.

The proposed budget also recommends cuts to other support programs that consistently deliver outstanding results, including Student Support Services, a highly successful national program through which 96% of 326 Suffolk participants remained in good academic standing and posted a graduation rate far surpassing the national average.

After House approval, another hurdle was added: a proposal that the maximum Pell grant award would be reduced from $7,395 to $5,710 for 2026-2027. We estimate this will impact 2,494 students. Proposed cuts to other vital supports will carry direct, adverse consequences to our students as well:

CCAMPIS, which helps adult student-parents to access affordable child care, is slated for complete defunding.

National Science Foundation grants support STEM learning, helping institutions like ours build a local pipeline of engineers, technicians, and computer scientists who are vital contributors to technological advancement. The current budget proposal reduces NSF funding by 55.8%.

Proposed Federal Work-Study cuts would be devastating. The college currently receives almost $500,000 for this program that allows 185 students to work part-time to pay for school. The proposed budget would reduce funding by 80%.

The Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program, which provides more than $750,000 in aid to our neediest students, is facing elimination. This year, SEOG helped 1,721 Suffolk students.

Everyone at Suffolk appreciates the difficult work facing national lawmakers in balancing and supporting regional and national priorities. However, proposed cuts to financial aid and student support programs will have a profound effect on students across the country. At SCCC, proposed changes would result in a decrease of $6 million in financial aid and support services to our students.

We urge our leaders to reconsider the impact of the proposed cuts to federal financial aid and programs that support college students. If enacted, the repercussions will have a profound effect on our students, our local workforce, and our long-term regional growth.

 n THIS GUEST ESSAY reflects the views of Edward T. Bonahue, president of Suffolk County Community College. It is cosigned by eight members of the board of trustees.