Will All Colleges Be Free In The Future?
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All Souls College-Oxford (by Ross Parker) -
Back of King's College Chapel (by Patrick Leahy) -
college (by Griszka Niewiadomski) -
college cafeteria (by Zaid Zolkiffli) -
College in Cambridge (by Ed Stafford) -
college lecture hall (by Griszka Niewiadomski) -
college scenery (by Ruth Elkin) -
graduates (by Margan Zajdowicz) -
graduation (by A B) -
graduation (by Sara Haj-Hassan) -
Ivy league too (by Ned Norton) -
library (by Henry G.) -
library (by Duran Cesur) -
Merton Courtyard (by Kim Coetzee) -
new college building (by Richard Styles) -
studying ahead (by Arjun Kartha) -
Trinity College (by Peter J.)
Dear Friends & Neighbors,
college lecture hall (by Griszka Niewiadomski)
library (by Henry G.)
Trinity College (by Peter J.)
studying ahead (by Arjun Kartha)
new college building (by Richard Styles)
All Souls College-Oxford (by Ross Parker)Back of King’s College Chapel (by Patrick Leahy)
college (by Griszka Niewiadomski)
college cafeteria (by Zaid Zolkiffli)
College in Cambridge (by Ed Stafford)
college scenery (by Ruth Elkin)
graduates (by Margan Zajdowicz)
graduation (by A B)
Ivy league too (by Ned Norton)
college cafeteria (by Zaid Zolkiffli)
library (by Duran Cesur)
college (by Griszka Niewiadomski)
(Please click on red links & note magenta)
Over the past thirty years, college tuition has increased over 1,100%. It has risen three times as fast as the consumer-price index and twice as fast as medical care in the past decade, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). That is why it was such a pleasant surprise when I received the news on Jan. 30, 2017, about Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam‘s State of State address before the General Assembly, outlining a plan to expand the Tennessee Promise scholarship model to allow adults to attend community college tuition-free. If the state lawmakers of Tennessee sign off on the program, Tennessee would be the only state in the nation to offer tuition-free community college education to high school students as well as adults under the Reconnect Act. Under Haslam’s administration, more than 33,000 high school students were able to attend community and technical colleges tuition free via the success of Tennessee Promise since 2014. Under Governor Haslam’s proposal, any Tennessee resident without a college degree or certificate would be eligible to use the scholarship regardless of income or past academic performance.
“We don’t want cost to be an obstacle any one has to overcome as they pursue their own generational change for themselves and their families.” announced by Governor Bill Haslam. Tennessee state funding already covers tuition for adults who want to go to technical college. There is a small program that pays community college tuition for adults who meet a rigorous slate of requirements. It is also expected that many adults will be interested in attending college part-time. Funding for the new scholarship will be coming from the state’s lottery proceeds. After all available federal aid is used, then state dollars would kick in to cover the tuition. David Gregory, the interim chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents college system said this plan would boost adult enrollment to the state’s network of 13 community colleges.
Upon further investigation, I would like to share with you an article by National Conference of State Legislatures on Free Community College: note that the state of Oregon already has in place the Oregon Promise program that will provide tuition waivers for students meeting certain requirements at community colleges; Minnesota has created a pilot program in 2015 to provide a last-dollar scholarship for students seeking credentials in designated high demand program areas; now Tennessee has two programs. The Tennessee Promise provides a last-dollar scholarship for recent high school graduates, and the Tennessee Reconnect program provides aid for adult learners. Many other states also have introduced legislation that would create free community college programs, such as WA, CA, AZ, OK, WI, HI, IL, MS, NY, MA, MD. The state of KY has established (by House Bill 626) the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship program, a last-dollar scholarship for high school graduates that will cover any unmet tuition and mandatory fee charges after other state and federal financial aid have been subtracted from a student’s tuition bill.
Legislation Introduced Legislation Passed Program in Place
WA, CA, AZ, OK, WI, KY OR, TN, MN
MS, NY, MA, MD, IL, HI
It does appear that any state that wants to be able to attract those who are interested in learning and in college education will need to pay attention to the trend in USA. The process of learning would enhance one’s marketable skills, longevity, health, ability to be better informed and make better decisions. In essence, if we want USA to continue to progress as an effective democracy, we need better educated and more informed population. Learning new things may help to create new brain pathways and prevent or delay Alzheimer’s disease or dementia and reduce much of the health care cost.
It would be wonderful when all 50 states will be able to take part in the American Promise of free college education for any one who is interested in learning.
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