President Obama Proposes New Community College Tuition Reform
Editor in Chief
In his 2015 State of the Union address, President Obama addressed an issue that hit very close to home for many Americans—the ongoing matter of student debt. In what he calls “A Better Bargain for the Middle Class,” Obama intends to make the American Dream achievable for everyone. He intends to do so by raising the minimum wage, providing high-quality preschool for every child, working with communities that were most impacted by the recession and much more, according to the White House. One such proposal is his plan to allocate $60 billion to ensuring two free years of community college.
“I really think it gives more opportunity to [everyone]. It offers an opportunity to explore what you want to do and older people can also take this chance to go back to school,” junior Justin Imaa said.
The free tuition does not come without conditions, however. According to PBS, students can receive free tuition so long as they maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher and continue to work toward attaining a degree or transferring to a four-year college. According to CNN and Columbia University, only 28 percent of community college students graduate within four years. 80 percent of students work toward a bachelor’s degree, yet only 20 percent of these students transfer to a four-year institution within five years, causing many to voice their distaste for the proposal.
“Personally, I would not [take this opportunity] because it would force a lot of burden on community colleges. Classes would be filled up and it would be hard to get all the units you need to transfer,” senior Patrick Lei said.
Even some on a national and worldwide circuit disagreed with the President’s proposal.
“President Obama is merely kicking the can down the road for future generations to confront,” CNN’s Michael B. Horn said.
Others disagree with Horn. CNN contributor LZ Granderson stated that a college degree is no longer just a luxury, but something that one-third of job openings by 2020 will require. He goes on to explain that Obama’s proposal would help unemployed Americans and part-time workers be trained in new skillsets and consequently close the skills gap and lower unemployment rates.