University system expanding student aid

New Hampshire's university system plans to beef up a program to help New Hampshire residents pay for college.

Under proposed changes to the Affordable College Effort program, called ACE, more first-year students will be eligible for ACE grants, and during the next two years, students in their second and third years of college will become eligible.

Only first-year students are eligible.

The program helped about 75 incoming freshmen this fall. University system officials say the changes could double the number of eligible students for the spring semester, and, depending on how much money the Legislature provides, increase it to about 250 next fall.

The ACE Awards program was established last year to help New Hampshire residents attending a university system institution in the state as a full-time freshman within one year of graduating from high school and for which the Expected Family Contribution is zero.

The Expected Family Contribution is a dollar amount a family is expected to pay toward college expenses. It's derived from analyzing a family's income, assets and expenses.

For the spring semester of 2007, the threshold will rise, and freshmen with an Expected Family Contribution of up to $1,000 will be eligible for an ACE Award. In the fall of 2007, freshmen and sophomores will be eligible, and in the fall of 2008, the program will serve freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.

The university system said expanding the program next fall and in 2008 will depend on future budgets approved by the Legislature and university system board.

"The eligibility changes to the Affordable College Effort will enable a greater number of students to receive these grants and an expansion beyond the freshmen year should reduce students' potential debt upon graduation and provide additional incentive to earn their degree," said university system Chancellor Stephen Reno.

The awards are for students at UNH, Plymouth State University and Keene State College.

The Associated Press

Mount Washington Observatory gifted

A man who lived in the shadow of Mount Washington has left the weather observatory on the summit its largest gift ever.

Sam Goodhue of Bartlett died in August at age 84, and left the observatory more than $1.5 million.

Single page