WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins, R-W.Va., sent a letter Tuesday to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos requesting her to reconsider applications for program at two universities.
West Virginia University and West Virginia State University lost funding for its McNair Scholars and Upward Bound programs respectively as the result of application discrepancies.
In its request, WVU rounded up its program funding by $2 to $220,000, putting an end to the 18-year initiative. The WVSU application included a $104 error on the grant narrative, costing the institution $500,000 in funding.
DeVos told a Senate Appropriations subcommittee June 6 that she would not reconsider funding Upward Bound at WVSU.
The McNair Scholars program serves first-generation, low-income and minority students nationwide.
Upward Bound provides learning and career counseling opportunities for first-generation and low-income college students.
Jenkins said in his letter data shows students who participate in similar programs are 20 percent more likely to graduate with degrees compared to students not involved in initiatives.
“You owe it to the students at these institutions who are enrolled in these programs to take a second look at these applications,” he said. “Hardworking students should not be punished and denied the opportunity for an education because of unintentional clerical errors.”
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., asked DeVos to consider funding Upward Bound during the Senate hearing.
The department’s proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year is $59 billion, $9 billion less than its current budget.