Washington — A coalition of 30 higher-education associations has written to Congress asking lawmakers to include money for student aid and campus infrastructure in an economic-stimulus package due out soon.

The letter, which is signed by the American Council on Education and other groups representing colleges and faculty members, requests a $700 increase in the maximum Pell Grant, which is now $4,731, and a doubling of funds for the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program, which augments Pell Grants for low-income students.

The letter also calls for the creation of block grants to support “shovel ready” projects — those that are capable to starting within 180 days.

Finally, it asks lawmakers to allow students who have completed at least two years of college to borrow more through the federal student-loan programs, as long as they do not exceed existing aggregate limits, and to extend the grace period preceding the onset of loan repayment from six months to nine months after graduation.

Other groups are also seeking a share of the stimulus. Last week a coalition of student and college associations wrote to Congress asking for a $2,269 increase in the maximum Pell Grant, to $7,000, along with a 25-percent increase in funds for the Federal Work Study Program. Their letter also calls for a limited “emergency access” student-loan pool for colleges that provide “adequate” need-based aid.

And on Friday the Association of American Universities sent a letter asking President-elect Barack Obama to support stimulus money for research, infrastructure, and student aid. —Kelly Field