T H E C L A C K A M A S P R IN T
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FEB. 2 5 , 2 0 1 5
| V O L . 48 ISSUE 14
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College officials say free tuition
good idea, unlikely
by Nathan Woosley
College is expensive. Tuition costs continue to rise
and many students are burdened with mountains of
debt. W hat if community college was free though?
Paid for by taxpayers the same as high school. If
federal and state lawmakers are successful, it could
be the new reality.
Recently at the State of the Union address, Pres
ident Obama proposed that all community college
be “As free and universal as high school.” Under the
proposal, the federal government would pay for 75
percent of college tuition with states picking up the
remainder of the tab, if they choose to opt in.
The proposal also requires that states better align
their community college programs with high school
programs so as to avoid remedial classes. The pro
gram will also mandate better student support and
advising services. Jim Huckestein, vice president of
college services at Clackamas Community College
said, “The college is already working on many of
those program s... with the increase in students and
mandatory improvements, we need a comprehensive
plan that covers more than just tuition.”
The proposed program would be eligible to all stu
dents with a GPA of 2.5 or higher who stay on track
to graduate and remain in school at least part-time.
With the current political climate and a Republican
congress, the proposal may remain just that, a pro
posal.
Political science instructor at CCC James Hite
seemed hesitant when asked how likely it is that the
federal bill pass, “Not a very good chance, though it’s
a good idea theoretically. Financing will be an issue.”
The question regarding how the $60 billion program
would be funded still remains as the Obama plan has
yet to outline how it would be paid. Not to mention
the proposal wouldn’t cover textbooks or many of
the other costs associated with community college.
Although Obamas proposal for free community
college may remain just a talking point, don’t rule
out free college just yet.
The likelihood of state covered tuition remains
a real possibility, due in part to a relatively small
$25 million cost. Under the Oregon plan proposed
President Barack Obama greets students at his State o f the Union address in January.
by senate education chairman Mark Hass, students
would still receive all existing state and federal grants,
pay $50 per class and leave the state to pick up the
remainder of the bill. The plan would not cover board
ing or other expenses.
Hite still isn’t convinced. When asked if he thought
the state had a better chance of passing the bill he
said, “The state is pretty broke and not very good at
funding programs like this.”
Huckestein had similar feelings on the bill, “The
state has very limited ways it can pay for it. One way
is to shift the cost to those who can afford community
college with a tuition increase.”
However the idea that community college could
be paid by state institutions is not a wild or even
untested idea. Recently Tennessee implemented a
plan to pay for all graduated high school students
tuition in a very similar plan to the Oregon proposal.
Still, many doubts about the program remain. Dave
Hunt, board member at CCC and former member
of the Oregon House of Representatives said, “[The
program is] w ell-intentioned but misguided. We
should focus on making school more affordable for
lower income families, but students still need to have
some skin in the game.”
For now free community college remains a dream
for many Americans unable to attend due to tuition
costs. With a growing competitive global economy
though, we may soon have to face the realization
that competing for a job w ithout post-secondary
education is just not possible.