Southeast Mo. State University issues statement regarding pause on federal grants, loans

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KFVS) - Students at Southeast Missouri State University received a message on Tuesday addressing President Donald Trump’s pause of federal grants and loans.

“Southeast Missouri State University is aware of the pause on disbursements of Federal grants and loans, and we continue to monitor the impacts this decision will have on student financial aid. At this time, the Federal Department of Education has announced Title IV financial aid such as Pell Grants and Federal Loans are not impacted by the temporary pause and can be paid as normal,” the university said in an email.

President Trump’s funding freeze, which was scheduled to go into effect at 5 p.m. on January 28, has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge until Monday.

We spoke with Matthew Kearney, Director of Student Financial Services at SEMO. He said they are working to make a plan to help students as they learn more.

“It’s not something we haven’t seen before as far as changes that are made to aid programs kind of in the middle of a year. And we kind of have learned to roll with that, so we take the information as it comes,” he said. “We make the best plan of action that we can with the information that we have with obviously our student’s interests in mind at all times and make sure that we can provide the opportunities that they deserve here at Southeast.”

University leaders said they will keep students informed of any new developments.