As a result, Pell grants grew by 35 percent last year to $850 million, their highest level ever.

With the start of the new year, the climate on financial aid appears more positive, Rowe says.

"The very good news here is that we've come out of the presidential election with a consensus on the importance of education," Rowe says.

The University intends to continue to organize with other colleges and associations to form a united effort in support of college financial assistance, Rowe says.

Additionally, Rowe commends the personal efforts of President Neil L. Rudenstine.

"[Rudenstine] does a lot behind the scenes... often discussing policy with senators like Kennedy, [D. Patrick Moynihan (D-N.Y.)] and Jeffords," Rowe says.

Rowe says Harvard has several overall goals for upcoming legislative action on student financial aid.

First, the University wants to ensure that the most financially underprivileged students are not left behind in the rush to help middle class families.

"Needy students need not be forgotten," Rowe says.

Secondly, the University will lobby hard to support financial aid programs which are campus-based, such as the Pell grant program, Rowe says.

Finally, the University will support efforts to bring about a discussion on the trend away from outright federal grants and toward increased loans, saddling graduates with larger debt loads.

Great Expectations

In contrast to the threats of massive cuts to federal aid to higher education made early in the 104th Congress, those on Capitol Hill say the new legislative atmosphere is more conducive to compromise.

"We share a goal with the President of using the tax code to help pay for students' college costs," Fleischer says.

Republicans, however, are concerned about the logistics of implementing the Hope Scholarship.