Michael Miller Briefs White House Staff

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Michael T. Miller

Michael T. Miller, University of Arkansas professor of higher education in the College of Education and Health Professions, briefed the White House domestic issues policy staff on the impact of federal financial aid changes on rural college student access during a visit to Washington on Feb. 13.

The briefing, conveyed by Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran, focused primarily on changes to the Pell grant financial aid program and the impact these changes have on rural community college students in states such as Arkansas. The briefing was also attended by representatives of the departments of labor, education and agriculture.

Cochran’s invitation to Miller was based largely on his past work on indirect benefits and factors influencing rural college access and matriculation.

“In many rural states such as Arkansas,” Miller said, “the question is often not where a student is going to college, but if they are going to college, and for many of our students, the option is typically enrolling in a community college or not enrolling in college.”

Miller also participated in meetings on financial aid and community college support with Education Secretary Arne Duncan and staff from the Office of Vocational and Adult Education.

The White House briefing was also part of a national day of recognition by the Rural Community College Alliance that hosted 100 community college presidents in Washington. The RCCA has expressed particular concern over the changes in Pell legislation to rural states such as Arkansas, Alabama and Mississippi.