Centuries removed from the era of wigged and powdered Whigs, Yankee Doodle, tea boycotts and tedious quill-and-ink compositions, current university students are accordingly apt to overlook the crucial role September 17, 1787's drafting of the United States Constitution still plays in financially facilitating higher education.

As a reminder, Congress passed legislation which requires all educational institutions receiving Federal funding--even on an individual student basis--to provide proper commemoration and education pertaining to the US Constitution and its role in educational funding on or before September 17 of each calendar year, dubbing the day "Constitution Day."

With this year's Constitution Day falling on the weekend, Andrews University will alternatively commemorate the day on Monday, September 18.

Andrews University welcomes this opportunity to appreciatively note the government's consistent financial assistance. Says Frances Faehner, vice president for Student Services, "Were it not for the generous support of our government, many students would simply be unable to study at Andrews University." In fact, thanks to the first Federal government disbursement of the current academic year, students enrolled at Andrews have already received $4.6 million in Federal Stafford Loans, $689,773 in Pell Grants, and $133,237 in Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants.

Those interested in more information about the US Constitution and Constitution Day in particular may find the following links helpful:

Library of Congress' repositories for Constitutional documents:
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/bdsds/bdsdhome.html

National Archives information on the US Constitution:
http://www.archives.gov/national_archives_experience/charters/constitution.htm

http://www.archives.gov/facilities/index.html