Pennsylvania students who plan to graduate in more than four years may not have to worry about finding additional aid.

Rep. Lynn B. Herman, R-Centre, is currently working on reintroducing a bill that would extend state grants to financially eligible fifth-year students.

The bill was first introduced last session on April 17 and was passed in the State House of Representatives with a unanimous vote of 195-0. The bill then went to the state Senate to be voted on, but it has yet to be approved.

"It was brought to the attention of the members of the state legislature that more than half of college students graduate after four years of academic study," Herman said.

In 1987, at the University of Pittsburgh, 14 percent of eligible students were able to graduate in four years, 30 percent at Temple University and 39 percent at the State System of Higher Education, according to a press release from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Students enrolled at University Park campus in 1995 had a four-year graduation rate of 44 percent while students enrolled in 1994 graduated at a rate of 75 percent, according to the Penn State Fact Book.

Herman found that students often have a difficult time graduating in four years because of transferring from another school, changing majors or family responsibilities of adult learners. By working with the Undergraduate Student Government, Penn State's Veteran's Association and the Commonwealth Council of Undergraduate Students, Herman developed legislation that allows students who graduate in five years to still be eligible for state grants.

"After investing four years of time and money into their education, they are ineligible for state grant support to complete their education," Herman said in a press release.

Students often look to the financial aid offices on college campuses next when they realize they cannot comply with the guidelines of their state grants.

"We get a lot of requests from students who have exhausted their four year eligibility," said Anna Griswold, assistant Vice Provost for Student Aid.

Griswold also said most students who do not graduate in four years have reasons such as being unable to take a full academic load of 15 credits. Griswold also finds that advisers encourage students to take additional courses not in their academic program and in doing so, the students need more than four years to finish.

While Griswold favors the new legislation, she explained that supporters should still be cautious. If money is not set aside for the extended state grants being proposed, it may in turn cause the amount of grants to be inconsistent throughout students' academic years, and they may receive lower amounts in some years of their education.

The Senate did not reach a vote on the bill when session ended Nov. 30. However, Herman is now looking for House members to co-sponsor the proposed legislation to reintroduce it when session resumes on Jan. 23.