SAN ANTONIO – For Miranda Reyna, the uncertainty surrounding San Antonio’s proposed budget decrease is personal.
The University of the Incarnate Word sophomore is taking five classes while working a part-time job. She told KSAT a scholarship from the San Antonio Education Partnership (SAEP) helped pay her tuition. But she’s now worried about what happens if that support is reduced.
“I understand like, OK, the city’s in deficit, like, but that shouldn’t have to play a part on me and the education that I want to get for myself,” Reyna said.
She is one of nearly 3,000 college students who could be affected by changes to city funding for SAEP. The organization provides college advising to high school students and scholarships to eligible graduates pursuing higher education. SAEP has been helping San Antonio students since 1989.
Reyna said balancing college expenses with work is already a challenge. She is currently paying for school while also covering other expenses, including her car, insurance payments and credit cards.
“Sometimes I’m thinking, ‘I get paid next Friday so how am I going to pay off everything else,’” Reyna questioned.
The SAEP scholarship she received helped ease some of that financial pressure.
“It mainly paid off my whole tuition, which was the main worry that I had,” Reyna said.
SAEP scholarships can be renewed for eligible students, meaning the potential impact extends beyond students who are just entering college. The organization said the proposed funding changes could affect students who are already enrolled and have made financial plans based on receiving scholarship support.
The city currently provides nearly $2.5 million for SAEP’s scholarship and high school advising program. In July, Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones asked local businesses and philanthropists to consider replacing city funding for organizations that could face cuts as San Antonio works to address a projected budget shortfall.
SAEP was among the organizations identified in the mayor’s request for outside support. The mayor asked potential donors to consider multi-year commitments that would match or exceed the city’s contribution.
San Antonio Education Partnership CEO Ana Acevedo said the potential reduction is particularly concerning for students who are already in college.
“It’s already impacting people that have already met the requirements and who are working very hard to continue on their course in college to get their degree,” Acevedo said.
She added the organization is also seeking additional private support, but it does not yet know how much of the city’s funding could ultimately be replaced.
The organization’s work goes beyond providing scholarship money. They also work directly with students in local high schools, helping them understand their college options, apply for scholarships and navigate the process of pursuing higher education.
Acevedo said advising is an important part of the pipeline that helps students move from high school into college. The potential loss of funding could also have implications for San Antonio’s overall college attainment and future workforce, she added.
“Every student that completes their college degree, that’s increasing our levels of educational attainment that will keep San Antonio economically competitive or make San Antonio more economically competitive,” Acevedo said.
For Reyna, the potential loss of the scholarship could not only make changes to her work schedule, but also how she continues affording her education.
The funding has not yet been cut. City leaders are expected to vote on the proposed budget Thursday, Sept. 17, when the future of programs like SAEP will become clearer.
Acevedo and Reyna plan to attend the city budget meeting and advocate for continued funding. Reyna said she hopes city leaders understand the people behind the numbers.
“People need to know who this impacts,” Reyna said.
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