Obama Proposes America’s College Promise

By DEANNA NUCCI and JESSICA ROSS

President Barack Obama, in the State of the Union Jan. 20, proposed to guarantee two free years of community college, better known as America’s College Promise.

America’s College Promise is available for anyone seeking a two year college education.  In order for people to benefit from this plan, students must obtain a GPA of 2.5 and be able to attend at least school part time.

Today, community colleges cost the average student  $3,347 according to the College Board. The Atlantic.com confirms that, “Under the new program, the federal government would chip in three-quarters of the cost, while states would cover the balance.”

Since the plan first surfaced on Tuesday, people are cautiously optimistic about the idea of free community college.

“It is something I would really consider but before doing so, I would make sure before I go to the four year school that everything matches up so Im not there an extra year,” said Erica Nilsen, a Ramapo College student.

Her major concerns about the plan are how transferring from the two year school to a four year school would work.  “I have so many friends that are transfers, or who may have switched schools that had issues where they had to stay at the four year school longer because they found out that credits did not transfer, or certain classes did not count” Nilsen said.

The free community college proposal would include either the promise that credits earned from the community college will transfer to a local four year college or university, or occupational training programs that ensure high graduation rates that lead to degrees or certificates that are in high demand according to the White House Fact Sheet. Included in the proposal, colleges have to adopt programs such as Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP).  ASAP waives tuition, helps students pay for books and transit costs, as well as provide academic advising.  The program also ensures that three quarters of the average cost of community college will be covered by federal funding.

Opponents of the plan worry about whether courses will transfer. According to US News, 1 in 10 community college transfers lose almost all of their credits when they transfer to a four-year college, essentially having to start over.

Supporters of  the plans most appealing aspect is that  highlight the cost benefit, that students will be able to save money if they wish to further their education.

NBC News reported that if adopted nationwide, administration officials estimate 9 million people across the country could save about $3,800 in college costs.

Allison Economou, a current County College of Morris student stresses its benefit for students who do not have a stable income to rely on.

“Financial situations make it hard for some people to get an education, and this would give everyone an opportunity,”   Economou said.

In his address, Obama touches upon the risk of  “undermatching” in the work force. He considers, that pushing the poor toward community colleges risks worsening the problem of “undermatching”—poor students who are bright enough for four year colleges but don’t go.”

Although the president ensures that the plan is a guide to “the surest ticket to the middle class” as said on Triblive.com, Vice President of Edvisors.com, a website devoted to giving insight on planning and paying for college, testified before congress that “only about a third of college students maintain a 2.5 GPA with a sufficient course load to qualify.”

The VP and publisher says under these requirements it “would eliminate more than a million community college students from aid eligibility.”

The National Education Association’s president Lily Eskelsen García said, “We applaud the Administration’s effort to make college more affordable for more students. Education has always been the gateway to success and far too many students are graduating with mountains of debt. At a time when post-secondary education has become even more important, students and their families are scrambling to pay for that education.”

While people are hesitant to watch this plan unfold, there seems to be more for the plan rather than against. Along with those hopefuls is the National Education Society who say, “the President is right to continue pushing to make the dream of a college education more attainable for more students and families.”

García enforced that post-secondary education has become even more important,” and “students and their families are scrambling to pay for that education.”

As Obamas proposal is still being roughed out, unsure to say when we can see it enacted, many Americans patiently wait to see if they can benefit from such a seemingly promising plan.