Free 2 years of community college

Hetta · Jan 9, 2015

morningstar2651 said:
Maybe for you, but I'm working on my master's degree right now.

Me too! <high five>

nightflight · Jan 10, 2015

Sketcher · Jan 10, 2015

Why does he think we can pay for this? Did he forget about the debt completely?

morningstar2651 · Jan 10, 2015

Sketcher said:
Why does he think we can pay for this? Did he forget about the debt completely?

Well he has to submit the budget for 2016 next month, so I'm sure we'll get more details then.

Until then, why not read the proposal instead of speculating?

FACT SHEET - White House Unveils America?s College Promise Proposal: Tuition-Free Community College for Responsible Students | The White House

FACT SHEET - White House Unveils Americas College Promise Proposal: Tuition-Free Community College for Responsible Students said:
Nearly a century ago, a movement that made high school widely available helped lead to rapid growth in the education and skills training of Americans, driving decades of economic growth and prosperity. America thrived in the 20th century in large part because we had the most educated workforce in the world. But other nations have matched or exceeded the secret to our success. Today, more than ever, Americans need more knowledge and skills to meet the demands of a growing global economy without having to take on decades of debt before they even embark on their career.

Today the President is unveiling the Americas College Promise proposal to make two years of community college free for responsible students, letting students earn the first half of a bachelors degree and earn skills needed in the workforce at no cost. This proposal will require everyone to do their part: community colleges must strengthen their programs and increase the number of students who graduate, states must invest more in higher education and training, and students must take responsibility for their education, earn good grades, and stay on track to graduate. The program would be undertaken in partnership with states and is inspired by new programs in Tennessee and Chicago. If all states participate, an estimated 9 million students could benefit. A full-time community college student could save an average of $3,800 in tuition per year.

In addition, today the President will propose a new American Technical Training Fund to expand innovative, high-quality technical training programs similar to Tennessee Tech Centers that meet employer needs and help prepare more Americans for better paying jobs. These proposals build on a number of historic investments the President has made in college affordability and quality since taking office, including a $1,000 increase in the maximum Pell Grant award to help working and middle class families, the creation of the $2,500 American Opportunity Tax Credit, reforming student loans to eliminate subsidies to banks to invest in making college more affordable and keeping student debt manageable, and making available over $2 billion in grants to connect community colleges with employers to develop programs that are designed to get hard-working students good jobs.

The Presidents Plan: Make Two Years of College as Free and Universal as High School

By 2020, an estimated 35 percent of job openings will require at least a bachelors degree and 30 percent will require some college or an associates degree. Forty percent of college students are enrolled at one of Americas more than 1,100 community colleges, which offer students affordable tuition, open admission policies, and convenient locations. They are particularly important for students who are older, working, need remedial classes, or can only take classes part-time. For many students, they offer academic programs and an affordable route to a four-year college degree. They are also uniquely positioned to partner with employers to create tailored training programs to meet economic needs within their communities such as nursing, health information technology, and advanced manufacturing.

The Americas College Promise proposal would create a new partnership with states to help them waive tuition in high-quality programs for responsible students, while promoting key reforms to help more students complete at least two years of college. Restructuring the community college experience, coupled with free tuition, can lead to gains in student enrollment, persistence, and completion transfer, and employment. Specifically, here is what the initiative will mean:

Enhancing Student Responsibility and Cutting the Cost of College for All Americans: Students who attend at least half-time, maintain a 2.5 GPA while in college, and make steady progress toward completing their program will have their tuition eliminated. These students will be able to earn half of the academic credit they need for a four-year degree or earn a certificate or two-year degree to prepare them for a good job.

Building High-Quality Community Colleges: Community colleges will be expected to offer programs that either (1) are academic programs that fully transfer to local public four-year colleges and universities, giving students a chance to earn half of the credit they need for a four-year degree, or (2) are occupational training programs with high graduation rates and that lead to degrees and certificates that are in demand among employers. Other types of programs will not be eligible for free tuition. Colleges must also adopt promising and evidence-based institutional reforms to improve student outcomes, such as the effective Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) programs at the City University of New York which waive tuition, help students pay for books and transit costs, and provide academic advising and supportive scheduling programs to better meet the needs of participating students, resulting in greater gains in college persistence and degree completion.

Ensuring Shared Responsibility with States: Federal funding will cover three-quarters of the average cost of community college. States that choose to participate will be expected to contribute the remaining funds necessary to eliminate community college tuition for eligible students. States that already invest more and charge students less can make smaller contributions, though all participating states will be required to put up some matching funds. States must also commit to continue existing investments in higher education; coordinate high schools, community colleges, and four-year institutions to reduce the need for remediation and repeated courses; and allocate a significant portion of funding based on performance, not enrollment alone. States will have flexibility to use some resources to expand quality community college offerings, improve affordability at four-year public universities, and improve college readiness, through outreach and early intervention.

Expanding Technical Training for Middle Class Jobs. Additionally, in order to spread the availability of high-quality and innovative programs like those in Tennessee and Texas, which achieve better than average completion and employment outcomes, the President is also proposing the American Technical Training Fund. This fund will award programs that have strong employer partnerships and include work-based learning opportunities, provide accelerated training, and are scheduled to accommodate part-time work. Programs could be created within current community colleges or other training institutions. The focus of the discretionary budget proposal would be to help high-potential, low-wage workers gain the skills to work into growing fields with significant numbers of middle-class jobs that local employers are trying to fill such as energy, IT, and advanced manufacturing. This program will fund the start-up of 100 centers and scale those efforts in succeeding years. Smaller grants would help to bring together partners and start a pilot program. Larger grants would be used for expanding programs based on evidence of effectiveness, which could include past performance on graduation rates, job placement rates and placement wages. Building on the Presidents community college initiative, known as the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Grants and for which 2014 was the final year of funding, these funds will help community colleges become more job-driven.

Building on State and Local Programs. In the past year, Tennessee and the City of Chicago initiated free community college programs. In the first year of the Tennessee program, 57,000 students representing almost 90 percent of the states high school graduating class applied for the program. The scholarship is coupled with college counseling, mentorship, and community service that early evidence suggests supports greater enrollment, persistence and college completion. This is coupled with efforts to spur innovation and improvement by funding colleges using performance outcomes based on student success and an innovative approach to career and technical education through the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology. These Tennessee Tech Centers have a graduation rate of 80 percent and a job placement rate of 85 percent.

Building on a Record of Progress. Since taking office, President Obama has taken steps to expand federal support to help more students afford college, while calling for a shared responsibility in tackling rising college costs. Key achievements include:

Doubling the Investment in Pell Grants: The President has raised the maximum Pell Grant award to $5,730 for the 2014-15 award year a nearly $1,000 increase since 2008. The number of Pell Grant recipients has expanded by 50 percent over that same time.

Expanding Education Tax Credits: President Obama established the American Opportunity Tax Credit in 2009 to assist families with the costs of college, providing up to $10,000 for four years of college tuition.

Pay-As-You-Earn Loans: All new borrowers can now cap loan payments at 10 percent of their incomes. The Department of Education has begun the process to amend its regulations and will make the new plan available on all direct loans by December 2015. We expect it to benefit up to 5 million borrowers.

First in the World Grants: In September, the Department of Education awarded $75 million to 24 colleges and universities under the new First in the World grant program to expand college access and improve student learning while reducing costs.

College Ratings Program: The Department of Education continues to develop a college ratings system by the 2015-2015 school year that will recognize institutions that excel at enrolling students from all backgrounds; focus on maintaining affordability; and succeed at helping all students graduate with a degree or certificate of value.

Job-Driven Training Grants: Through the Trade Adjustment Community College and Career Training program more than 1,000 institutions have received $2 billion in federal funding to design education and training programs, working closely with employers and industry that prepare workers for jobs in-demand in their regional economies, such as health care, information technology and energy. These programs have shown early success -- through the end of FY2013, among the nearly 164,000 individuals who had enrolled in these programs 88 percent either completed a program or continued the program into a second year.

White House Summit on Community Colleges: In October 2010, the President convened community college leaders, faculty and students; business leaders; philanthropic organizations; and other workforce development experts for the first White House summit dedicated to the role that community colleges play in our efforts to increase the number of college graduates and prepare those graduates to lead the 21st century workforce.

Center for the Analysis of Postsecondary Readiness: Last August, the Department of Education launched a new $10 million Institute for Education Sciences-funded Center for the Analysis of Postsecondary Readiness (CAPR) that is working to strengthen the research, evaluation, and support of college readiness efforts across the nation. CAPR is documenting current practices in developmental English and math education to identify innovative instructional practices that improve student success.

Call to Action on College Opportunity: Last December, the President, Vice President, and First Lady joined college presidents and leaders of non-profits, foundations, and other organizations to announce over 600 new commitments to produce more college graduates. Community colleges made commitments individually, and in partnership with neighboring school districts and four-year institutions, to build seamless transitions among institutions, develop clear educational and career pathways, implement strategies to increase student completion of STEM programs, and establish more accurate measures of student progress and success.

Vylo · Jan 10, 2015

While I generally support this move, I think we may need to revise our entire education system. Make the primary and secondary curriculum more intense and 10 years long, leaving the last 2 years for associate degrees as a standard part of the education system. We need better educated people in the current work environment.

dogs4thewin · Jan 10, 2015

Vylo said:
While I generally support this move, I think we may need to revise our entire education system. Make the primary and secondary curriculum more intense and 10 years long, leaving the last 2 years for associate degrees as a standard part of the education system. We need better educated people in the current work environment.

I said college should not be mandatory and you are proposing or associate degree being required that is college.

You know what I liked most about college group work? I will admit to dropping out half way through my 4-year degree and having no degree currently ( hoping to change that one day, but have been running into both personal issues and issues applying.

That being said, I liked how in college, particularly after the first semester or two people WANTED to be there. They would not have other people pay, pay themselves and they certainly would not be taking out loans if they did not WANT to be there. This meant that group work tended to be made easier because people who WANT to and are paying to be there are more likely to ALL pull their own weight.

NightHawkeye · Jan 10, 2015

morningstar2651 said:
Maybe for you, but I'm working on my master's degree right now.

Good for you, Morningstar.

I recommend it highly. Got a couple of graduate degrees myself. I fail to see just why though taxpayers should be expected to fully fund adult education. That said, I'm all in favor of incentives for those, such as yourself, who are interested in continuing their education to learn things which will benefit society. Fully funded education beyond high school for everyone though, free of charge ... not so much.

hurste1951 · Jan 10, 2015

NightHawkeye said:
Good for you, Morningstar.

I recommend it highly. Got a couple of graduate degrees myself. I fail to see just why though taxpayers should be expected to fully fund adult education.

Yeah, because only horrible places like Norway do THAT!

That said, I'm all in favor of incentives for those, such as yourself, who are interested in continuing their education to learn things which will benefit society.

If it benefits society why can't society be asked to kick in a little?

I am kind of a bad example, though. My wife and I don't have kids. So literally every penny we pay in property taxes that goes to the local school district is forcibly taken from us without any direct benefit to us.

If I were a CONSERVATIVE I'd complain because it's MY MONEY (Peace Be Upon It's Name) but I'm a dirty Liberal so I actually kind of APPRECIATE good education...even when I don't have any kids getting it.

Fully funded education beyond high school for everyone though, free of charge ... not so much.

If Obama had suggested that we'd be having a different conversation. He suggested free associates degrees from community colleges. That's not quite the same thing. But one who has a "couple of graduate degrees" probably already knew that.

hurste1951 · Jan 10, 2015

Vylo said:
While I generally support this move, I think we may need to revise our entire education system. Make the primary and secondary curriculum more intense and 10 years long, leaving the last 2 years for associate degrees as a standard part of the education system. We need better educated people in the current work environment.

Agreed. But we also need a society that doesn't simultaneously denigrate educated people as "elites".

And we need to remember that not all jobs require a college degree. We seem to have completely forgotten about trades and the idea of trade schools.

We need to improve our primary education system with more days/year of education and we need to regain what used to be considered a value in this country: smarts (even without a sheepskin).

Hentenza · Jan 10, 2015

dogs4thewin said:
that is if you qualify for it.

Most qualify.

The Federal Pell Grant Requirements

dogs4thewin · Jan 10, 2015

Hentenza said:
Most qualify.

The Federal Pell Grant Requirements

I know we did not until this year as father was forced out of the workforce as he has cancer and is quite frankly terminal.

Hetta · Jan 10, 2015

dogs4thewin said:
I know we did not until this year as father was forced out of the workforce as he has cancer and is quite frankly terminal.

I am very sorry to hear about your father. My mother died of cancer and 8 years later I still miss and grieve her loss. I pray that your family is sustained through this heart-breaking time.

Hentenza · Jan 10, 2015

dogs4thewin said:
I know we did not until this year as father was forced out of the workforce as he has cancer and is quite frankly terminal.

All you had to do was file the FAFSA as an independent instead of a dependent.

Sorry to hear about your father. I'll keep him, you, and your family in my prayers.

Skaloop · Jan 10, 2015

Gigagei Tsula said:
No thank you. The US Govt. can keep its money. I don't want anything to do with it.

Yes you do. You benefit from government money every single day. You'd barely survive without it.

Red Fox · Jan 10, 2015

Skaloop said:
Yes you do. You benefit from government money every single day. You'd barely survive without it.

I'm not taking govt. money to go to school, for welfare, or for healthcare. I'm not dependent on nor will I ever be dependent on the United States govt. to take care of me or my family. The United States govt. can stick their charity money where the sun will never find it as far as I'm concerned.

dogs4thewin · Jan 10, 2015

Hentenza said:
All you had to do was file the FAFSA as an independent instead of a dependent.

Sorry to hear about your father. I'll keep him, you, and your family in my prayers.

You have to file as dependent unless you meet certain qualifation that many do not you must be married, in the armed forces, have a dependnt yourself, have been made a ward of the court or be at least 24 and I nor my sister fit in those catorgies.

stellalunaCW · Jan 10, 2015

hurste1951 said:
And we need to remember that not all jobs require a college degree. We seem to have completely forgotten about trades and the idea of trade schools.

This is true, but most jobs require some sort of post-secondary training. Where does that training come from? Overwhelmingly, it comes from community colleges.

After reading the fine print, I do not support this plan in its current form, which is focused solely on two-year AAS programs. A much better idea is to provide up to two years of community college tuition, to include certificate programs that provide training for jobs that don't need degrees. Not only would it be cheaper, it would allow students to be trained and prepared for their local job market much sooner. (Some certificate programs can be completed in just months.)

ArmenianJohn · Jan 10, 2015

Red Fox said:
I'm not taking govt. money to go to school, for welfare, or for healthcare. I'm not dependent on nor will I ever be dependent on the United States govt. to take care of me or my family. The United States govt. can stick their charity money where the sun will never find it as far as I'm concerned.

So how do you get around without government-funded roads? What do you do with your garbage without government-funded trash collection/removal? How do you eat or drink anything without government-funded rules and quality control on everything you eat and drink???

Just because you don't take money in the form of cash or check from the government doesn't mean you don't take money from the government. You do. You take the services the government provides. You are able to safely write the post you wrote because the US Military is protecting you as are the police and first responders in your area. You have heat and water and electric because of the government-regulated and subsidized utilities company that provides you with it.

You need a reality check if you think you don't take from the governments (yes, plural - local, state, and federal governments, you take from them all).

morningstar2651 · Jan 10, 2015

NightHawkeye said:
Good for you, Morningstar.

I recommend it highly. Got a couple of graduate degrees myself. I fail to see just why though taxpayers should be expected to fully fund adult education. That said, I'm all in favor of incentives for those, such as yourself, who are interested in continuing their education to learn things which will benefit society. Fully funded education beyond high school for everyone though, free of charge ... not so much.

Well, I wouldn't say it's for everyone or fully funded - it's only for attendees of community colleges, and there are GPA requirements.

I think the GPA requirement is too low - I'd set it at 3.0 instead of 2.5.

I think that the long-term benefits of education far outweigh the costs.

Ada Lovelace · Jan 11, 2015

Disclaimers to my post: I've only read the Time Magazine article about the proposal rather than the USA Today one liked here; I haven't even skimmed my eyes over any the other posts; and it's 5:30 in the morning and my body is already awake but my brain is still snoozing. So please excuse me if my post is ignorant, repetitive, or loopy-logiced.

In the Time article Cory Fritz, a spokesman for Speaker of the House John Boehner, is quoted as saying: “With no details or information on the cost, this seems more like a talking point than a plan." Rarely do I agree with Boehner, but on this point I'm nodding my head. It feels like an idea launched into the sky at night without our ability to see if it's got the wings and the navigational abilities to stay on course and not crash on our heads.

Also from the Time article: "White House domestic-policy director Cecilia Muñoz said the proposal is a federal-state partnership, with federal funding covering 75% of the tuitions and participating states will be expected to pick up the rest of the tab. Muñoz said legislation would be needed to approve the plan and repeatedly declined to say how much it would cost, saying more details about the funding source would come in the President’s budget for the next fiscal year due next month."

Cotton candy clouds always look appealing but they're just fluff. This idea looks fantastic - freebies with your college education! better educated society! more skilled workers!- but I'm seriously wondering where the money is going to come from to pay for it, and what the ramifications will be on four-year public universities and private universities and the students who attend them. I'm concerned funding that is currently allocated to higher education funding will be diverted to this plan, to the detriment of the universities and students alike. I've heard perpetual new stories about tuition hikes the UC and CSU campuses, which are often accompanied with student protests, for the past few years. The budget crisis at CSU and UC has been intense and prolonged, primarily due to epic budgetary mismanagement with funding that had brought them to the knees before the recession swung its series of blows.

I'm a high school senior in California and am mainly just semi-knowledgeable about colleges here because I've just gone through the admission process for them. There have been deep cuts to the budget, causing a virtual exsanguination on some campuses. Faculty, programs, and have been resources cut at most public universities here. Some programs have even issued moratoriums on admission because they don't have the space or the funds to admit new students. Many students who actually are motivated and eager to complete their degree have been unable to do so because of an inability to get a spot in classes required for graduation. They get filled to capacity quickly. One girl from my church has been trying to graduate for six years. It's all about supply vs. demand. The supply of classes have been cut due to funding, and the demand for them has remained a constant. Schools that used to be relatively easy to get into are now very competitive, also due to the small supply of spots in relation to the demand for them. Several campuses within the CSU system now mandate that students first attend a community college and obtain their AA degree before transferring because they do not have the physical space or the funding to accommodate them.

Though UCLA, Berkeley and other elite universities do still admit the majority of their students from in-state, advantage has been given to out-of-state and international kids whose parents can afford the steeper tuition rates. Don't quote me on the numbers because I might be a bit off, but I believe it's around $50,000 a year for them at UCLA vs. $35,000 for an in-state student living in campus housing. Most private universities are already more than $50K per year, and many of the students are from middle class families who are dependent upon financial aid.

There's already way more people who begin college than who earn a degree. I'm worried that there will be more people attending community college who will encounter difficulty with then finishing their degree at a four-year school. Here in CA we have a program called TAG (Transfer Admission Guarantee), but it's not available at all campuses and many students do not meet the specific eligibility requirements. I wonder if more AA programs would be strengthened and made more appealing.

So yeah, it's a concern that this proposal if implemented could actually make getting into college and then earning and affording a degree even more challenging for many.

I hope this makes sense. I babble like crazy when I'm tired. Oh. Time link: http://time.com/3660891/obama-proposes-free-community-college/

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