Governor’s Column - April 27, 2007
by Governor Matt Blunt
A Landmark Plan for Missouri Students
Education is my highest priority as your governor and with the support of your elected representatives I am confident we will secure a brighter future for our students, colleges and universities, and state with the passage of a comprehensive higher education package.
This important legislation continues to move through the legislative process with a majority of senators recently voting to approve the plan. For the benefit of Missouri families, this package includes comprehensive measures that will increase funding for higher education, provide tuition stabilization and expand scholarship opportunities.
The package also includes my Lewis & Clark Discovery Initiative which is a partnership between the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA) and the state. Through this landmark initiative we can sell loans held by people in other states and bring $335 million dollars home to strengthen our colleges and universities for Missouri students.
The Lewis & Clark Discovery Initiative will provide much needed funding for state-of-the-art facilities to prepare students to compete in today's global economy where higher quality learning in areas such as math and science are crucial elements of a student's success. Missouri can not afford to lose bright students in these important areas of study to other states. Every Missouri campus has significant capital improvement needs that, if completed, would help ensure a world class education for students here at home.
This partnership will also benefit students by providing MOHELA with the capacity to continue to offer low-interest loans and loan forgiveness. In fact, MOHELA recently announced they are forgiving more than $4.6 million in student loans which will benefit more than 9,300 students.
Missouri students and families are ready for better facilities to ensure that they have access to the best learning opportunities that will prepare them for high-paying, family-supporting jobs. The Lewis & Clark Discovery Initiative will give Missouri students and families this opportunity.
I am committed to doing everything I can to enhance education opportunities, from providing new learning centers to increasing the number of scholarships available to students. I appreciate the diligent work of the General Assembly on this bold legislation that will make critical investments in higher education throughout our state.