NORTHWEST
East Oregonian
Page 2A
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Oregon’s free community college may be template for U.S.
CHICAGO — An economic
engine. A jumpstart for lower-in-
come students. A partnership with
businesses to groom a workforce.
The idea of free community college
has been touted as all these, by Pres-
ident Barack Obama, Democratic
presidential candidates, and some
Republicans.
The idea is to curb student debt
and boost employment by removing
cost barriers. Educators are split on
its merits, with some worrying the
push could divert students away
from four-year schools. And some
proposals could cost taxpayers tens
of billions of dollars, and may still
leave students with debt.
But thousands of high school
graduates have just started commu-
QLW\ FROOHJH IRU IUHH ZLWK WKH ¿UVW
batch enrolled in independent
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Chicago and soon Oregon doing
so under different price tags and
philosophies — offering templates
of how a federal program might look
and potential glitches.
“My family wasn’t going to be
DEOHWRVXSSRUWPH¿QDQFLDOO\´VDLG
19-year-old aspiring doctor Michelle
Rodriguez, who’s taking classes for
free in Chicago after concluding
that even with in-state tuition and a
scholarship a state university would
be tough. “I’m the oldest. I’m the
¿UVWJHQHUDWLRQWRJRWRFROOHJH´
Tennessee is at the forefront,
with over 15,000 students enrolled
in what’s characterized as a jobs
program. Chicago has just under
1,000 recent graduates in its City
Colleges plan, with a push toward
getting students into four-year
schools at a discount. Oregon is
accepting applications for next fall,
with as many as 10,000 applicants
expected. Other states are watching
and considering their own programs.
Cost is bound to be a contentious
issue, especially with strapped state
and municipal budgets.
The Chicago’s Star Scholar-
ship — a signature Mayor Rahm
Emanuel initiative — is the most
generous. Beyond tuition, it picks up
books and transportation. “All I have
to worry about is ordering my books
on time, getting my homework on
WLPHDQGVWXG\LQJ´5RGULJXH]VDLG
The price tops $3 million for the
inaugural class.
Tennessee, which this year relies
on roughly $12 million from lottery
IXQGV LV D ³ODVW GROODU SURJUDP´
— paying what federal aid doesn’t
cover, with an average of $1,165 a
person.
Related costs are up to students.
For now, Oregon has set aside $10
million, and will cover up to the
AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast
make four-year public universities
free.
Using public dollars for such
programs is relatively new. Orga-
nizers studied plans utilizing private
dollars as a model. Graduates from
Kalamazoo, Michigan, have had
free tuition available at some public
colleges for a decade. Philanthro-
pists have run a similar Knoxville,
Tennessee, fund since 2008.
Still, Democratic state Sen.
Mark Hass, who pushed the Oregon
Promise, had a hard time convincing
KLVRZQSDUW\RIEHQH¿WV+HZHQWWR
the economics.
“To make a business case out of
it, you look at the social costs that
some of those people would likely
LQFXU RQ WKH ZD\ WR SRYHUW\´ KH
said. “A year of community college
is a lot less than a lifetime on food
AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast
In this Nov. 3, 2015, photo, Mi- VWDPSV´
GOP-led Tennessee, which has
chelle Rodriguez poses for a
portrait at the Malcolm X Com- all 13 of its community colleges
participating, saw an 18 percent
munity College in Chicago.
enrollment bump at technical
average tuition of $3,500 annually colleges, according to Mike Krause,
per student.
executive director of Tennessee
2EDPDKDVÀRDWHGDELOOLRQ Promise.
nationwide plan calling for two
³7KLVLVDMREVFRQYHUVDWLRQ´KH
years of free community college said.
available to most anyone with a
With most students in Tennessee
family income under $200,000 who DQG&KLFDJRMXVW¿QLVKLQJWKHLU¿UVW
can keep a 2.5 grade point average.
semesters, it’s early for data on drop-
Republicans
criticized
the outs, higher degrees or job place-
cost, and at least one presidential ment. Education experts, though, say
candidate, New Jersey Gov. Chris the Tennessee and Oregon models
Christie, has said it’s a bad concept. could still leave students with debt.
But Republican Jeb Bush likes the
“Students from low-income fami-
general idea and has supported lies, even when getting their tuition
Tennessee Promise.
paid for, still have substantial shares
Democrats Hillary Clinton and RIWKHLUFRVWRIDWWHQGDQFHWRFRYHU´
Bernie Sanders both have proposed said Debbie Cochrane, research
affordable college plans, and GLUHFWRUDWWKHQRQSUR¿W,QVWLWXWHIRU
Sanders has introduced legislation to
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MONDAY
26° 18°
28° 15°
TUESDAY
Mostly cloudy with
freezing fog
Some sun; ice at
night
Cloudy and chilly;
a p.m. shower
31° 19°
36° 23°
36° 28°
HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST
29° 18°
PENDLETON
through 3 p.m. yesterday
TEMPERATURE
HIGH
Yesterday
Normals
Records
LOW
27°
10°
43°
30°
69° (1892) -11° (1896)
PRECIPITATION
24 hours ending 3 p.m.
Month to date
Normal month to date
Year to date
Last year to date
Normal year to date
0.00"
1.18"
1.30"
7.81"
10.36"
11.29"
HERMISTON
through 3 p.m. yesterday
TEMPERATURE
HIGH
Yesterday
Normals
Records
LOW
32°
45°
68° (1949)
13°
30°
0° (1993)
PRECIPITATION
24 hours ending 3 p.m.
Month to date
Normal month to date
Year to date
Last year to date
Normal year to date
0.00"
0.81"
1.06"
5.39"
6.25"
8.34"
SUN AND MOON
Sunrise today
Sunset tonight
Moonrise today
Moonset today
Last
New
Dec 2
Dec 11
30° 21°
35° 23°
37° 27°
Seattle
42/29
ALMANAC
First
7:11 a.m.
4:14 p.m.
7:25 p.m.
9:35 a.m.
Full
Dec 18
Dec 25
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COMMERCIAL PRINTING
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REGIONAL CITIES
Today
WEDNESDAY
PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST
29° 17°
ADVERTISING
Advertising Director: Jennine Perkinson
MSHUNLQVRQ#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRP
Real Estate Advertising: Jodi Snook
MVQRRN#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRP
Forecast
Spokane
Wenatchee
32/13
32/19
Tacoma
Moses
42/24
Lake
Pullman
Aberdeen Olympia
Yakima 30/16
32/18
46/28
43/22
36/17
Longview
Kennewick Walla Walla
42/21
22/18 Lewiston
29/17
Astoria
33/20
50/32
Portland
Enterprise
Hermiston
45/26
Pendleton 31/8
The Dalles 29/17
26/18
34/21
La Grande
Salem
32/10
42/24
Albany
Corvallis 42/23
40/22
John Day
36/11
Ontario
Eugene
Bend
29/11
40/23
29/9
Caldwell
Burns
28/14
24/-1
Astoria
Baker City
Bend
Brookings
Burns
Enterprise
Eugene
Heppner
Hermiston
John Day
Klamath Falls
La Grande
Meacham
Medford
Newport
North Bend
Ontario
Pasco
Pendleton
Portland
Redmond
Salem
Spokane
Ukiah
Vancouver
Walla Walla
Yakima
Hi
50
26
29
53
24
31
40
26
29
36
33
32
34
42
48
54
29
27
26
45
29
42
32
29
44
22
36
Lo
32
5
9
35
-1
8
23
14
17
11
8
10
12
21
34
34
11
19
18
26
8
24
13
9
24
18
17
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s
s
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s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
pc
s
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s
s
s
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s
s
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NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY
Sun.
Hi
50
28
37
53
27
30
44
29
29
39
35
34
35
43
49
54
31
28
28
44
38
43
28
33
42
25
34
Lo
36
6
15
39
-4
7
24
11
18
8
10
12
14
23
37
39
11
15
15
27
13
25
15
8
23
18
16
Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day.
W
s
pc
s
s
pc
pc
s
pc
pc
pc
s
pc
pc
s
s
s
pc
pc
pc
s
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pc
pc
s
pc
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WORLD CITIES
Today
Beijing
Hong Kong
Jerusalem
London
Mexico City
Moscow
Paris
Rome
Seoul
Sydney
Tokyo
Hi
33
78
69
49
75
28
48
56
38
76
58
Lo
20
70
53
47
51
16
45
40
27
66
48
W
s
s
pc
r
pc
s
pc
pc
c
sh
s
Sun.
Hi
37
81
67
56
74
25
55
57
43
80
57
Lo
19
69
50
46
47
23
50
40
34
67
49
W
s
s
s
sh
pc
pc
c
s
sh
sh
c
WINDS
Medford
42/21
Klamath Falls
33/8
(in mph)
Today
Sunday
Boardman
Pendleton
VAR 2-4
VAR 3-6
VAR 3-6
VAR 3-6
UV INDEX TODAY
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
REGIONAL FORECAST
Coastal Oregon: Mostly sunny today. Clear
tonight. Sunny much of the time tomorrow.
Eastern Washington: Mostly sunny today.
Mainly clear tonight. Partly sunny tomorrow.
Eastern and Central Oregon: Freezing fog
in the morning; otherwise, partly sunny and
cold today.
Western Washington: Plenty of sunshine
today. Clear tonight. Sunny to partly cloudy
tomorrow.
Cascades: Mostly sunny and chilly today.
Mainly clear tonight; cold. Mostly sunny
tomorrow.
Northern California: Partly sunny today;
very cold in the interior mountains. Clear
and cold tonight.
0
1
1
GRANTS PASS (AP)
— Wildlife rehabilitation
workers say a great horned
owl that was tangled in
¿VKLQJOLQHLVUHVWLQJDIWHU
being rescued by Oregon
¿UH¿JKWHUV
The Grants Pass Daily
Courier reports that a
resident in Shady Cove saw
WKHDGXOWPDOHRZOÀDSSLQJ
its wings erratically while
high up a tree on Sunday.
Jackson County Fire
District No. 4 Captain Rick
Mendenhall says the owl
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)LUH¿JKWHUVZHUHDEOHWR
rescue the bird, which had
¿VKLQJOLQHZUDSSHGWLJKWO\
around one wing. They
removed the line and put the
bird on the ground, but it
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So they wrapped the owl
in a blanket and took it to
rehabilitation center Wildlife
Images.
Marketing coordinator
Devan Ferrell says the owl
will be released if and when
it regains its wing strength.
Corrections
Legal Advertising:$PDQGD-DFREV
DMDFREV#HDVWRUHJRQLDQFRP
Single copy price:
7XHVGD\WKURXJK)ULGD\6DWXUGD\
Oregon ¿re¿gKters
rescue owl tangled
in ¿sKing line
The East Oregonian works hard to be accurate and sincerely
regrets any errors. If you notice a mistake in the paper, please call
541-966-0818.
&ODVVLÀHG$GYHUWLVLQJ
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Copyright © 2015, EO Media Group
Freezing fog in the
morning
College Access & Success. “They’re
not borrowing for tuition. They’re
ERUURZLQJIRUFRVWVEH\RQGWXLWLRQ´
That organization says 69 percent
of 2014 college graduates left school
with outstanding student loans,
which averaged $28,950.
Octavia Coaks, an 18-year-old
in Chicago, said she feels lucky
that her parents, a nursing assistant
and railroad engineer, don’t have to
borrow more.
“I have a sister in college, they’re
(already) taking out loans. I don’t
want to put that kind of burden on
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study forensic science.
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Unlike Obama’s plan, the state and
Chicago programs are limited to
recent graduates.
Tennessee has no grade require-
ment. Oregon will require a 2.5
average. Chicago requires a 3.0
GPA.
City Colleges of Chicago
Chancellor Cheryl Hyman said
that level is a signal students “have
the persistence and dedication to
their studies needed to succeed in
FROOHJH´
Some researchers worry the
program could divert students,
at least initially, from four-year
schools.
“Typically, students who have
a 3.0 are already going to go to
FROOHJH´ VDLG 6DUD *ROGULFN5DE
a University of Wisconsin-Mad-
ison professor who studies such
programs. “It doesn’t usually change
who goes to college, it might change
ZKHUHWKH\JR´
But many in the Chicago
program say they’re trying to
complete general requirements and
then transfer. A dozen Chicago-area
colleges say they’ll offer schol-
arships to Star Scholars. Chicago
graduate Oscar Sanchez, 18, says
he’s inspired by his older classmates
in community college.
“If they’re putting that much
HIIRUWZK\FDQ¶W,"´KHVDLG
In this Nov. 2, 2015, photo Octavia Coaks poses for a portrait at the
Olive-Harvey College library in Chicago.
— Founded Oct. 16, 1875 —
Freezing fog this
morning
UNION (AP) — A
group in Union County says
it is on track to meet the
Feb. 17 deadline to collect
more than 627 signatures
supporting a ballot measure
to limit commissioners’
terms.
The La Grande
Observer reports that Union
County Citizens for Good
Government chief petitioner
Jim Mollerstrom says the
group is working to get
the ballot measure in the
May primaries to limit a
commissioner’s term to two
terms, or no more than eight
years.
The group successfully
led a campaigned that was
passed by voters that made
commissioner positions
not-partisan in 2014.
— Mark Hass,
Oregon State Senator
representing Beaverton
Subscriber services:
For home delivery, vacation stops or delivery concerns: 1-800-522-0255
SUNDAY
Group on track to
get term limits in
Union County
on May ballot
“A year of commu-
nity college is a lot
less than a lifetime
on food stamps.”
By SOPHIA TAREEN
Associated Press
TODAY
BRIEFLY
1
0
0
8 a.m. 10 a.m. Noon 2 p.m. 4 p.m. 6 p.m.
0-2, Low
3-5, Moderate 6-7, High;
8-10, Very High;
11+, Extreme
The higher the AccuWeather.com UV Index™ num-
ber, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.
Forecasts and graphics provided by
AccuWeather, Inc. ©2015
-10s
-0s
showers t-storms
0s
10s
rain
20s
flurries
30s
40s
snow
ice
50s
60s
cold front
70s
80s
90s
100s
warm front stationary front
110s
high
low
National Summary: Rain will drench areas from Texas to the Ohio Valley today. An ice
storm will wind down over the southern Plains as snow dwindles over the southern and
central Rockies. Most other areas will be dry.
Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states)
High 86° in Brownsville, Texas
Low -23° in Old Faithful, Wyo.
NATIONAL CITIES
Today
Albuquerque
Atlanta
Atlantic City
Baltimore
Billings
Birmingham
Boise
Boston
Charleston, SC
Charleston, WV
Chicago
Cleveland
Dallas
Denver
Detroit
El Paso
Fairbanks
Fargo
Honolulu
Houston
Indianapolis
Jacksonville
Kansas City
Las Vegas
Little Rock
Los Angeles
Hi
52
72
64
66
31
74
26
52
74
65
42
46
46
29
43
56
20
33
84
69
45
74
36
52
56
66
Lo
38
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49
47
16
59
14
36
50
50
29
34
42
16
28
46
8
12
73
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34
56
30
33
47
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Sun.
Hi
54
72
52
53
30
70
29
48
75
57
44
48
49
32
44
63
12
35
84
64
47
76
40
52
52
67
Lo
28
57
41
36
15
61
15
32
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0
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Today
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Louisville
Memphis
Miami
Milwaukee
Minneapolis
Nashville
New Orleans
New York City
Oklahoma City
Omaha
Philadelphia
Phoenix
Portland, ME
Providence
Raleigh
Rapid City
Reno
Sacramento
St. Louis
Salt Lake City
San Diego
San Francisco
Seattle
Tucson
Washington, DC
Wichita
Hi
62
65
81
39
32
67
78
59
37
34
67
65
46
54
72
30
33
55
45
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42
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Sun.
Hi
51
54
82
42
36
59
77
51
43
38
53
63
45
50
68
31
37
55
47
33
67
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37
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22
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Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain,
sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice.
W
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