Local Colleges Praise Obama's Plan For Education Assistance
WARREN (WWJ/AP) -- The President's proposal to give every American the chance for a free college education is being welcomed by community colleges throughout Michigan.
President Barack Obama on Friday proposed to bring the cost of two years of community college "down to zero" for all Americans, an ambitious nationwide plan based on a popular Tennessee program signed into law by that state's Republican governor.
Jim Jacobs, president of Macomb Community College, said that a college degree is no longer optional in today's workplace.
"Almost all work -- including construction and manufacturing work -- will require some forms of post-secondary education," Jacobs said. "That doesn't mean a four-year degree -- it could mean an apprenticeship, it could mean a certificate, it could mean an Associate Degree."
The White House estimated that 9 million students could eventually participate and save an average of $3,800 in tuition per year if they attend fulltime. Students would qualify if they attend at least halftime, maintain a 2.5 grade point average and make progress toward completing a degree or certificate program. Participating schools would have to meet certain academic requirements.
While Obama's proposal shows promise, Jacobs says it also depends on existing Pell Grant funding and the "buy in" of the states.
"It will encourage students from low-income families or families where they thought that education -- a college education -- was out of the reach of the family to have some form of financial assistance," Jacobs said.
Jacobs he remains optimistic that the program can work in Michigan and is hopeful that Governor Rick Snyder will see the benefits.
Jacobs did say that as with every policy, the "devil is in the details." because Obama's proposal has a lot of moving parts, including cooperation on the state level.
However, the idea and its $60 billion federal price tag over 10 years would have to make the grade with a Republican Congress that is showing little appetite for big new spending programs. Obama, who plans to push the issue in his Jan. 20 State of the Union address, argued that providing educational opportunity and creating a more skilled U.S. workforce shouldn't be a partisan issue.
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