Lawmakers Consider Slashing Scholarships
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Updated: December 18, 2012
High school seniors counting on scholarship money from the Arkansas Lottery might come up a little short.
The Lottery Oversight Committee on Tuesday recommended cutting four year college scholarships from $4,500 to $3,300 and two year college scholarships from $2,250 to $1,655.
State officials say lottery sales were flat and more students than anticipated won scholarships leaving a $15 million gap in funding.
For now, slashing scholarships is just a recommendation, says Shane Broadway, Director of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education.
"The main key, whatever decision they make, is making sure whatever you commit to a student, that you've got enough (money) to see it all the way through," Broadway said.
Any approved cuts would not affect students currently receiving scholarships, he said
The lottery-scholarship program started two years ago.
The Lottery Oversight Committee on Tuesday recommended cutting four year college scholarships from $4,500 to $3,300 and two year college scholarships from $2,250 to $1,655.
State officials say lottery sales were flat and more students than anticipated won scholarships leaving a $15 million gap in funding.
For now, slashing scholarships is just a recommendation, says Shane Broadway, Director of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education.
"The main key, whatever decision they make, is making sure whatever you commit to a student, that you've got enough (money) to see it all the way through," Broadway said.
Any approved cuts would not affect students currently receiving scholarships, he said
The lottery-scholarship program started two years ago.
