Community colleges warn possible loss of Pell eligibility for part‑time students; committee puts higher‑education requests on hold

Chancellor Mark Rubinstein of the Community College System of New Hampshire told the Senate Finance Committee that proposed federal changes to Pell Grant eligibility could remove aid for many part‑time community college students and recommended the state prioritize funds that protect those students.

Rubinstein said recent federal proposals would set a full‑time Pell threshold at 15 credits per semester and a 7.5‑credit minimum for eligibility. “Half of our students currently register for fewer than 7.5 credits per term,” Rubinstein said, and that change could force students to slow or stop progress toward degrees because of work or family obligations.

The community college delegation asked the committee to restore the governor’s request for the dual and concurrent enrollment (early college) program to $3 million per year; the House had reduced that funding to $2.5 million per year. Rubinstein said the early college program served more than 10,800 students this year and leveraged about $14 million in tuition and fees; those credits often reduce costs and time to a credential.

Committee members raised concerns about adding new recurring spending in a tight biennium and requested additional information and coordination with the university system. Senator Lang asked that items 1–3 related to the community college system be put on hold so senators can review unique funds and potential offsets; he recommended pairing any increases with higher‑education priorities across systems.

The committee agreed to place the community college requests (items 1–3) on the hold list for follow‑up. Rubinstein said the system is willing to re‑prioritize requests in light of the budget climate, but urged the committee to consider support that would mitigate the impact if federal Pell changes become law.