WATERTOWN — U.S. Rep. Elise M. Stefanik took part in a roundtable discussion at Jefferson Community College Monday to hear student perspectives on what is and isn’t working in terms of affordability.

Stefanik, R-Willsboro, was joined by about 20 other students of various ages and pursuits. The majority of the students said they have received Pell Grants, which are federal government subsidies that help students pay for a college education.

Some of the students, who also work full- or part-time jobs while raising a family, said the Pell Grant program limits when students can take classes. The current program covers only the traditional academic year, which could make it difficult for those working full- or part-time jobs to pursue a college education during winter and summer.

JCC also has a high number of military veteran students enrolled full- or part-time and are seeking more flexibility through the Pell Grant program.

Stefanik has worked to address this issue. In 2015, she introduced the Flexible Pell Grant for 21st Century Students Act, which seeks to expand the program so students can take classes in the winter and summer. While it died without action in 2015, Stefanik’s bill was reintroduced in Congress this year, and she talked about its provisions to the students.

JCC officials who attended the meeting noted that the college would be able to offer more courses to students during winter and summer semesters if more students had the financial means to do so.

“If we think about our non-traditional college students, they are working part time, they are slightly older, perhaps they’ve served in the military,” Stefanik said. “We need to make sure that our higher ed is flexible and meets their needs, so this is a way to modernize and make college more accessible, and it’s a great way for me to get feedback from the students.”

New York state has made headlines recently as being the first state to offer free college tuition through the Excelsior Scholarship program. The program applies to two-year and four-year state universities for families making less than $100,000 this fall. Eligibility will increase to $110,000 and under in 2018 and $125,000 in 2019.

While Stefanik said she supports initiatives to increase affordability, she disagrees with a few of the program’s limitations, such as its lack of funding to make private universities more affordable as well.

“I think we need to focus on policies that will ensure that all higher ed options are affordable,” she said, adding that the program also does not apply to part-time students, nor does it cover textbook and school supply costs.

Stefanik will be in Lyons Falls today from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. for a “Coffee with Your Congresswoman” event.

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(Editor’s note: Four daily newspapers in the North Country — the Enterprise, Post-Star of Glens Falls, Watertown Daily Times and Press-Republican of Plattsburgh — are sharing content to better cover New York’s 21st Congressional District.)