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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW California man dies in I-5 rollover ... Medford man wins Megabucks jackpot ... Budget tops $339 million for 2016-17 ... California man dies in I-5 rollover ... Medford man wins Megabucks jackpot ... Budget tops $339 million for 2016-17 ... EDUCATION Oregon to give college grants to neediest first Change will replace first-come, first served system for low-income families Comment By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Mar. 28, 2016 at 5:32 PM By The Associated Press Posted Mar. 28, 2016 at 5:32 PM » Social News PORTLAND — Oregon will begin offering college grants to the state's low- and middle-income students based on their level of need. That's a change from the former first-come, first served system. Students who filled out their request for financial aid the soonest used to jump to the front of the line provided they were Oregon residents with an annual family income of less than $70,000, said Bob Brew, director of the Higher Education Coordinating Commission's Office of Student Access and Completion. "Lower-income students tended to apply later and not get the money," Brew told The Oregonian on Friday. Once the state money allocated to the Oregon Opportunity Grant had all been assigned, it was gone. State lawmakers tweaked the system in 2015, adding more money to the grant and allowing the neediest students to be first in line. They increased the program by nearly 24 percent for the 2015-17 cycle, dedicating $140.9 million to the program. The expansion will allow an additional 16,000 people to receive grants, Brew said. About 40,000 students currently receive an Oregon Opportunity Grant. Lawmakers also approved rules to guarantee the neediest students who apply for the program receive preferential treatment when the state distributes aid for upcoming school year. But some administrators are concerned about the impact of those rules, which could mean some full-time students who had been receiving a maximum of $2,250 in state aid will no longer qualify. "We want to make sure those students aren't further disenfranchised in their path to get a degree," said Hans Bernard, associate vice president for state and community affairs at the University of Oregon. Low-income students face funding gaps even if they qualify for the Federal Pell Grant and the state program, said Bernard, explaining that about 2,000 such students receive full tuition through the university's PathwayOregon program. The university said it wasn't clear how changes in the grant program would affect those students. The state typically sends award letters to more people than it can fund, like an airline that oversells seats, Brew said. Only about half of the people who receive letters actually show up and enroll in college, he said. By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Mar. 28, 2016 at 5:32 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501