PTK Advocacy Center
Scholarship, Leadership, Service & Fellowship

Protect Pell. Protect Futures. Protect Students.
You are not alone. And your voice matters.
Recent changes proposed in Congress threaten to eliminate or drastically reduce Pell Grant funding for part-time students—students who are working, raising families, caring for loved ones, and doing everything they can to stay enrolled.
The Phi Theta Kappa Advocacy Center empowers students to speak directly to their elected officials about how proposed changes would impact their lives, their futures, and their ability to earn a degree. PTK’s CEO, Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, submitted a letter on behalf of the Society—but we know it’s the voices and stories of students themselves that carry the most weight.
Why This Matters
Nearly 70% of community college students attend part-time, and most work full-time or have family responsibilities. These proposed changes would:
- Eliminate Pell Grants for students taking fewer than 7.5 credit hours. Part time students taking two courses will lose their grants entirely.
- Reduce awards for those taking 12 to 14 hours—even though they’re considered full-time. These reductions are estimated to be a 20% decrease for those currently receiving maximum Pell.
- Add new taxes to Pell Grants, cutting aid even further. Under the proposed changes in the House reconciliation bill, Pell Grants would become subject to federal income taxation.
- Changes that affect Pell Grants for everyone. The bill modifies the formula for determining financial need by adjusting the Student Aid Index, which could affect eligibility and award amounts for federal student aid.
- For a deeper dive into the proposed changes and who it hurts the most, click here.
That means thousands of honor students—just like you—will be punished simply for juggling college.
Make It Personal
Use the template that fits you best as a guide—but don’t be afraid to speak from the heart. Share why you chose community college, what challenges you’ve overcome, how financial aid has made a difference, where you work, and what you aspire to become. Be clear about what is at risk for your future if these changes move forward.
Congress listens to real people. The more personal and specific your story, the more powerful your voice will be.
How to Take Action
Follow these simple steps to make your voice heard:
- Click on the letter that most represents you. Each letter is written from the perspective of a different type of student—choose the one that best reflects your experience, or read them for inspiration.
- Prepare your letter. Use the template as a guide, but make it your own. Add personal details about your college journey, your challenges, and why Pell Grant support matters to you or your peers.
- Submit your letter. When you're ready, click the button below to send your message directly to your two Senators and your Representative.
*About the letter submission provider: PTK uses Democracy.io. A nonprofit open source platform to simplify aimed to facilitate civic engagement without endorsing specific political candidates or parties. The platform is designed with user privacy in mind and operates without tracking or influencing the content of messages. All code is licensed under the AGPL, encouraging transparency and community-driven improvements.