University of Virginia Library

Stone Submits Bill

Yesterday William F. Stone,
D-Martinsville, formally
submitted a second bill to
provide state loans to Virginia
students who attend private
colleges in the state.

If this legislation passes,
student admissions pressure
placed on institutions of higher
learning may be lessened.

The Virginia Supreme
Court declared
unconstitutional a similar bill
passed in 1972 because of a
provision that allowed the state
to waive loan repayment if the
student maintained a
satisfactory grade point
average. The court ruled that
this made the loan a grant.

The newly proposed bill
also waives repayment, but
only under certain instances.
They include working for state
or local governments, working
for certain nonprofit
organizations, service in the
armed forces, or residing in the
state following graduation.

The Council of Presidents
of the State Institutions of
Higher Education is
backing a second
proposal which would only
grant financial aid for a
student's 'demonstrated
financial need.'