Federal Grants Provided for Palau Community College

Data on grants awarded to PCC students  show that students fully fund their education at Palau Community College (PCC) through grant money provided by the United States Federal Grant made possible through the Compact of Free Association between the Republic of Palau and the United States. Basically, the students are attending the community college for free. During my year as a student at Palau Community College in 2004, I did not have to pay tuition from my own pockets--or should I say my family's own pockets. At the end of the semester, I would, however, receive a refund of nearly $500. The grant money awarded by FAFSA during my time enrolled at PCC was approximately $2000 a semester. I believe cost per credit during this time was $70. In addition to tuition fees, there were other fees that included student fees  and cost of books and supplies that were added to the total tuition fee for a student. The grant money covered all the expenses, and I even received the money left over to save in my savings account in the bank.
Since then, cost of education at PCC has gone up to about $3000 per student. Again, students receive about $5000 in federal grant to cover education cost. It seems the tuition rise is determined in relation to federal grants provided for Palau Community College by the United States.

This year, PCC's college newsletter featured an article report on PCC's reaffirmed accreditation. In the article, "Warning Lifted Accreditation Reaffirmed", the college had to address four recommendations by ACCJC: "Improving Institutional Effectiveness, Library and Learning Support Services, Human Resources, Leadership and Governance."


Well, if PCC is not an accredited college, then it would not receive federal funding from the US. The US government seeking to ensure the federal funds and grants are being spent by colleges responsibly rely on accreditation organizations to do the work for them...to ensure the federal funds are being used effectively to improve quality of education offered at institutions. As you read throughout the article piece, there are other financial resources other than the federal funds provided by members of the community and organizations, including foreign organizations. Learning from finance class, there is a great importance in the diversity of revenues or financial resources for institutions. In the case of the students' funding education primarily by federal grants, is the institution providing other types of scholarships for students? In a case where federal grants will be decreased, will students have other sources of grants or funds to look towards? I know of the Faculty Senate Scholarship that provides a few hundred dollars to students from all over Micronesia who plan on or are attending PCC.