OPINION: Congress must not be permitted to harm my students
Dr. Marcus L. Thompson
Dr. Thompson is the 13th President of Jackson State University, a top-ranked HBCU located in Jackson, Mississippi.
Growing up, I always knew I wanted to help people. I wanted to help other people to be able to see the greatness inside themselves. That sentiment is what led me to education; and what led me to Jackson State University.
I first came to JSU as a Ph.D. candidate for urban higher education, and quickly felt I had found my home and my purpose here. From then on, I’ve remained incredibly connected to the university, and I was named President on November 16th of 2023.
I love Jackson State University. Not only has it been with me through the most significant times of my academic and professional career, it also provided me the opportunity to lead the most outstanding students, faculty and staff, who are always striving for greatness in their fields.
I care very deeply about the success of this institution and the success of its hardworking students and faculty. As one of the top Historically Black Colleges and Universities, each and every member of the Jackson State family carries the responsibility and privilege to uphold our legacy of fostering an empowering stronghold to a diverse student body through excellence in education.
Our students at every level– undergraduate, graduate, specialty and doctoral– rely on financial aid. JSU has the highest percentage of Pell Grant recipients out of any other institution, according to US News, at 79% of students.
31% of our students are taking courses part-time in order to keep up jobs, families and other responsibilities, according to DataUSA in 2021. This means a third of Jackson State University students are automatically disqualified from many of the state programs available.
According to the New York Times, JSU is ranked 361st of 377 public selective colleges by highest to lowest median parent income. This leaves many of our students and graduates left to struggle with lifelong student loan burdens. Following graduation, 48% of Black borrowers owe more than they originally borrowed, according to the Education Data Initiative, compared to 17% of white borrowers.
The College Cost Reduction Act should be helping students like mine. Instead, it harms them to no end.
The efforts listed in this bill would trap my students in debt. And it would deter my prospective students from higher education altogether.
Rather than these flawed attempts at meaningful change, Congress should focus on uplifting students of all backgrounds to ensure a bright, educated future for our country.
Initiatives like increasing the Pell Grant would help give mine and other HBCU students the fighting chance we all deserve.