In his proposed 2006 budget, President Bush plans on cutting higher education programs that would eliminate funding for two high school components of Marquette's Educational Opportunity Program.
According to Noam Neusner, a spokesman for the United States Office of Management and Budget, Bush plans on eliminating funding for the TRIO Upward Bound program, currently at about $300 million. Upward Bound is one of 48 education programs the president plans to eliminate in 2006.
"We found this program had no effect overall in the students it posed to help," Neusner said.
Bush's proposal poses a risk to two EOP programs at Marquette: Upward Bound and Upward Bound-Math and Science.
"We're hoping that does not pass. If it does, we don't know what we'll do at this point," said Gregory Frederick, assistant director of EOP.
Frederick said four specific programs are under the umbrella of EOP. These programs include college division programs like Student Support Services and McNair Scholars and high school programs such as Upward Bound and Upward Bound-Math and Science.
"The Upward Bound programs have always had federal funding," Frederick said. "College division programs will not be cut, but pre-college programs would lose funding."
Upward Bound serves high-risk youths on the college track.
"Our analysis showed this program did not serve the neediest," Neusner said.
The evaluation of the program was conducted by a private, nonpartisan firm called Mathematica Policy Research Incorporated.
"We have spent $12 million over the last 14 years to evaluate this program," Neusner said. "We based the study on 1,500 students in Upward Bound."
Marquette alone has 200 students in both of its Upward Bound programs, according to Ethel Woods, EOP administrative secretary.
"We found students who benefited from Upward Bound would have succeeded without the program," Neusner said.
The money used to fund Upward Bound will be redirected to Bush's new education program, the High School Intervention Initiative.
Neusner said the High School Intervention Initiative will improve high school education and achievement, especially among high-risk students.
"Marquette students know, if your high school did not prepare you properly, your first year of college is very difficult," Neusner said.
Wisconsin's U.S. senators are opposed to the proposed cuts.
"Sen. Kohl is very concerned about the president's proposed cut to TRIO," said Zach Goldberg, a spokesman for Sen. Herb Kohl . "He has fought for TRIO funding in the past and will continue to work on it this year as well."
A spokesperson for Sen. Russ Feingold confirmed the senator had voted for an amendment proposed by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) that would oppose the president's planned program elimination.
Frederick said EOP always has more applicants than actual spaces available for assistance.
Woods said roughly 500 college and high school students are aided by Marquette's EOP.
"My parents cannot afford to send me here without financial aid provided by EOP," said Jessica Jones, a freshman in the College of Arts & Sciences. "If Bush's budget passes I would need to look at different colleges."
Stephen Holder, a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences, receives aid from EOP. He is concerned about the timing of Bush's proposed budget cut.
"Why is there such an urgency to stop this program?" Holder said. "Besides giving students opportunities they wouldn't normally have, EOP helps students in life. It helps students with the mental transition to college."
This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on Mar. 17 2005.