Community College Debate

In the article "Free College? It Doesn’t Fix Everything," Richard V. Reeves (2015) explores insists that making college tuition-free may increase college entrance rates, however, would not increase the number of graduates by significant numbers.In this article, Reeves examines the Kalamazoo Promise, which began in 2006 when anonymous donors made college free for all Highschool graduates in the Kalamazoo, Michigan school district. Since the plan's introduction, more than 35 cities have adopted a similar plan to that of Kalamazoo's. The plan's goal is to create a level playing field for low-income students to have the opportunities to compete with those of a higher income class. Reeves argues that “dramatic reductions in the cost of college

Community College. She displays her expertise in the discussion of whether Obama’s proposal of free tuition college is accomplishable. Cubberly displays her views by using visual graphs and past experiences to question if the stance of free college tuition was built on solid foundation. She brings up the Recession of 2008 and how it had a large impact on the way community colleges are standing now. Especially when it comes to their ability to meet the needs of an exploding new mass of students, if Obama’s proposal is passed.

Tennessee’s public financing model for free community college has spawned a series of similar efforts across the United States, including President Obama’s nationwide effort and statewide programs in Texas, Indiana, and Minnesota. It is the City of Chicago’s program, however, that stands out both for having been inspired by Tennessee while also improving on the model through targeted industry partnerships and coordination among training institutions.

Alan Greenblatt also examines the effects providing students with two free years of community college tuition. While Cubberley believes that students need to be provided two years of free tuition, Greenblatt believes students are still advancing in life just fine, even with their debt. “graduates with high levels of debt are still reaching their major life milestones, although students who dropped out without completing degrees are struggling” (Greenblatt). Community colleges are a wonderful resource for many students. They provide them with the ability to explore their dreams, have less worry about their finances, and are a stepping stone into better opportunities. While two free years of community college may sound like a wonderful investment,

Kris, a wife and a mother, worries about the increasing cost of higher education. She and her husband have a two year old daughter whom they are determined to send to college. They want their daughter to succeed in life, but they have to weigh the complications of going to college as well. “I have always thought about college as a “catch 22”...You’re taught from a young age that in order to achieve the “American Dream” you must graduate high school and go to college,” Kris contemplates (Kris 5).Throughout Kris’s ten years of experience with college, she has seen the tuition increase to shocking heights. In fact, she claims that community colleges cost as much as state colleges did when she first started her college hunt. Back then, she

a bold new plan to lower the cost of community college – to zero”. . The United States

To Carruthers, college should be free: “the price of college is a critical piece of information for students who are unsure about going, and yet, it is a mystery until after admission and financial aid decisions are in, often late in their senior year (if they applied at all).” Many students and their families cannot simply afford college, making the idea of going unrealistic. Carruthers believes that programs like Tennessee Promise will give students who didn't have the opportunity before a chance to go to college. She states, “Tennessee Promise eliminates that uncertainty with a blunt and simple message: Free tuition for high school graduates of any income and any amplitude.” Free college programs will change the way we think about the academic system. More and more students will be allowed to continue their academic careers without having to worry about costs. On the other

Community college is often seen and used as an avenue to access a higher level of education at a reduced cost when compared to four-year universities. However, as these costs are lower, there are still those who face difficulties when meeting these monetary requirements. This can be seen as there are those who still require financial aid to attend community college. To add onto this, a higher level of education has become an increasing necessity to secure one's place in today's world. Many are facing the prospects of job loss and career redundancy which requires re-education due to local and global factors such as increased globalization, job automation, climate change and what some see as a precarious economy. For this, I propose a full federal and state government subsidization for community college attendance nationwide.

“"Free" is a word with a powerful appeal. And right now it 's being tossed around a lot, followed by another word: "college."” (Kamenetz).The debate surrounding free community college for all is becoming rather controversial. Since there has been no law set in place federally some states are taking aim. Washington has a scholarship program called “Washington Promise” that supports what this act is all for. As the world continues to flatten, it seems the only way to compete in the globalized economy is by higher education. Even though the funding is large, the first two years of community college should be free to all. The Washington Promise, a scholarship program in place to provide scholarships to high school seniors who graduate from a Washington high school, is a way to help students in the Yakima Valley attend college and graduate with an A.A degree which helps stress the importance of liberal arts, and help decrease what Thomas Freidman, the author of The World is Flat, calls the education gap at the bottom.

President Barack Obama made a proposal on January 8, 2015 to make community college free for Americans. The proposal is made with stipulations, being that students are required to attend at least half time, maintain a 2.5 GPA, and make steady progress toward completing their program. With Tennessee already at a successful head start with their free tuition program, President Barack Obama wants the remaining states to progress as well. Now President Obama wants every American to receive two years of tuition free education in a community college. Upon completion of a community college major, students will receive two years of free education. The plan states that the federal government is to pay three-fourths of a student’s community college tuition if states agree to pay the remaining twenty-five percent. With rising student loan debt, students will finally have the necessary recourses to afford college and go back to school. The two year community college proposal should be mandated, but only with the stipulations previously stated.

College has always been a part of my life plan. From the time I was a little girl, I dreamed about what it would be like to walk across that stage with a degree in my hand. Sadly, this isn't the case for some. To many potential students, the idea of going to school is one that they dream about, but never take the steps to achieve and the reason boils down to one simple thing-- cost. While community college isn't the most expensive option out there, it can still get extremely pricey, I know from experience. This seems like it's a personal problem, but in fact, it should be a state problem. Free community college in California will not only be a great benefit to potential students, but to the state economy and government, as well as the local

After a hectic first semester at the community college, I began to find myself. I realized that the four-year university I wanted to attend initially, would have not been a good fit for me. Being part of different student organizations and creating connections with my professors at the community college is what helped me find what I was really looking for. I wanted a place where I felt like I mattered and not a school with fifty thousand students where I would just feel like a number. The additional semester I got to stay home, I was able to do more research and find a university where I would fit in and connect with.

Dr. Monica Herk, vice president of education research at the Committee for Economic Development, claims “Making community college free will reduce costs for families but increase them, probably significantly, for taxpayers.” It is no doubt that a free community college program in the Yakima Valley would be expensive. For students with a full course load of 15 quarter credits, tuition at YVC costs over $4,000 per student per year (“Yakima Valley College Tuition”). This cost can be overcome, however, as Tennessee’s community college tuition rates for a comparable course load also costs around $4,000 per student per year (“Tennessee Promise”). In 2016, The Oregonian journalist Andrew Theen reported that each year, because of federal funding through programs like the Pell Grant, Tennessee Promise (Tennessee’s free community college program) only incurs “an estimated cost to the state of $938 per head.” So, even though Tennessee’s community colleges cost $4,000 per student per year, the state only pays around 23.5 percent of the total tuition price. Assuming that each year, 2,000 students earn a 3.0 GPA or better at YVC and the cost per student per year of the program is about $938, the program would cost around $1.8 million per year. To pay for the program, I offer two solutions. Foundation President Glenn Rasmussen asserts that The Yakima Valley College Foundation (YVC

It is hard enough to balance studying and making the high grades to stay competitive with peers then when we add work to the mix it becomes even more complicated. College students shouldn’t be pressured this much simply because they want to try and improve their life and that’s not even the worst part when we do finally graduate we are guaranteed nothing. It will most likely remain financially difficult for college students throughout the U.S but there have been some improvements and many are choosing the alternative of community college simply because it is cheaper or free for students under a certain age. “Across Tennessee, community colleges are experiencing booming enrollments as the first wave of students accepted under the state's free-tuition program, known as Tennessee Promise, cram into classrooms.

I believe that when debating between colleges the most important factor is safety. The reason we go to school is to learn, and worrying about whether you are safe in your dorm room is a must. People too often are harassed and assaulted on college campuses, many times without the perpetrator receiving any form of fault. Many women and men on college campuses are prone to be beleaguered in a sexual way. Often times the victims of these assaults don't receive any form of justice, leading students to continue to be fearsome of doing anything