MAY 6 .2 0 1 5 • CLACKAMAS PRINT
3
Tuition waivers offer relief
During the 2014/2015 school year, the
college planned on awarding more than
$650,000 in free tuition
photo by Becca Moreno
by Zak Laster
Getting ready for college can be a very
stressful time. You’re ready to move on
from high school and finally become an
adult, but along w ith continuing your ed
ucation comes massive amounts o f inev
itable d e b t You w ant to continue your
education and work towards that degree,
but how are you going to pay for all your
schooling on the way to your degree?
One solution at Clackamas Community
College is through tuition waivers. Getting
your tuition waived for one, tw o or even
three terms, can really help release the
burden of debt. For athletes on college
campuses getting a scholarship is a great
way to get an education at a discounted
price. However, to earn a scholarship, also
known as a tuition waiver, it’s Important to
stay focused on your schoolwork.
“The requirements are you have to pass
at least 12 credits, and you have to go
in and sign papers from our athletic di
rector,” said David Smallwood, freshman
baseball player. “You just have to pay for
your books and your class fees.”
These requirements are the same for all
athletes wanting to get a tuition waiver.
For some athletes, getting a tuition waiver
is a way to give back to their family.
“My parents have always helped me
out w ith money," said volleyball player
Lindsey Keegan. “They would pay for my
school whether I w ent here or not, but I
knew (the tuition waiver) would make It
easier on them."
Being an athlete Isn’t the only way to
receive a tuition waiver on campus. CCC
awards tuition waivers In several different
departments including art, music, drama,
business, computer science, horticulture,
manufacturing, science, as well as Asso
ciated Student Government
In the 2014-2015 school year, the col
lege planned to award 7,800 credits or
more than $650,000 in free tuition. The
m ost free tu itio n was allotted to peer
assistants, w ho were eligible fo r 1,000
credits of free school. The second highest
number of free credits w ent to the wres
tling team, which was awarded 745 in free
credits, or the equlvllant of 20 full-tim e
athletes In fall, winter and spring terms.
One of the lesser known ways to get a
tuition waiver at CCC is through the Peer
Assistant program. This program is coor
dinated by Dustin Bare.
“It’s really peers helping other peers
out,” said Bare. “In doing so, they’re able
to earn a tuition wavier.”
Students have an easier tim e under
standing the college processes from other
students who have already experienced
things on campus and In the computer
systems. A peer assistant may be a great
help for a student unsure about how to
look up their textbooks on MyClackamas,
how to pay a bill, understand emails sent
from the college or how to make sure they
know how to see their academic evalu
ation to get their degree in an efficient
manner. Peer Assistants may also give
campus tours and assist with how to regis
ter for classes. One great benefit Bare sees
of the Peer Program is the Call Center.
“The hundreds to thousands of phone
calls that come Into the school every year,
many of those are answered by students,
and students are calling," said Bare. “It’s
really students helping students. The pro
gram helps students grow professionally
and learn the system."
Another aspect of the Peer Program Is
the peer mentor program, which Is also
overseen by Bare. This is the tutoring that
happens In the math and writing labs.
Overall the Peer Assistant/Peer Mentor
Program has 24 spots over 10 different ar-
Lindsey Keegan, CCC student, plays on the Cougar
volleyball team In return for a tuition waiver. Playing on
a sports team is one of many ways students can access
tuition waivers.
eas that include the admissions welcome
center, the advising and career center, the
fro n t welcome desk, international con
nector, counselling, call center, disability,
m ath/w ritlng labs and enrollment. To be
considered fo r the one o f these spots,
you must have a 3.25 GPA and at least 12
credits completed at Clackamas.
“We w ant them to have a little bit of
a foundation of understanding some of
those intricacies of myClackamas," said
Bare. “Understanding how to use Moodle,
when I’m struggling in a class, w hat do I
do? If you haven’t ever taken a class you
may not have had those experiences."
In order to keep your job In the pro
gram, you must have passed 12 credits
w ith a minimum 3.0 GPA. This is to en
sure the peer assistants hired are pro
gressing through their college careers.
Students are allow ed to take m ore
than 12 credits in a term, but tuition for
only 12 credits will be waived. To be a
p a rt o f th e Peer Assistant program ,
th e school has a recruiting process it
completes to find qualified applicants.
W ith 12 credits equaling approximately
$1,000 a year, tuition waivers can give
students many opportunities th a t they
may not otherwise have. To earn a waiver,
they have to do a lot o f extracurricular
work, but the benefit of the financial relief
is worth It
Visit www.theclackamasprint.com to learn more about tuition waivers
and hear students talk about their experiences.