Local Students React To White House Proposal To Grant 2 Years Of Community College Tuition For Free
By Justin Finch
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Across the country, college students are reacting to a new White House proposal to grant two years of tuition for free to community college students.
At Delaware County Community College, Eyewitness News spoke to students standing in line to register for the spring semester and pay tuition, which per year, can cost as much as 10 times less than a private university.
"We thought it was a better option," said new student Anastasia Posse who was in line with her friend Cameron Yocum. "We're at a different school now, and we're like, 'oh, we'll save money and get the same education. '"
"Not only did my tuition cost get cut in half, but I was able to transfer all of my credits over to Drexel, and I only had two years of tuition rather than four years," said George Henning.
Though lines are steady now, college president Jerry Parker said community college students can sometimes struggle to juggle tuition, work, and their personal lives. He hoped the proposal would allow more students to focus on their studies.
"We're the affordable option. We're the last option for some of these students; and if they can't afford us, the real concern should be, then what," Parker added. "Where do they go because they can't attend college."
President Obama presented the idea in Tennessee, where a free community college tuition program is already in place for high school students graduating this year. The program is called the Tennessee Promise, and is partly funded by lottery revenue.
The White House's proposal, called America's College Promise, would be paid for by a mix of state and federal funding.
"A lot of times, students go to community college and they don't have the proper plan in place," said student Antoine Mauldin. "You might waste a lot of government money. So, I think there should be some kind of parameters in place to make sure that a student stays on track."
To be eligible, the White House wants students to enroll at least part-time, maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA, and show continued progress towards a certification, job, or a 2 or 4-year degree.
The White House is also pushing a plan to expand vocational training at community colleges, with the result sending more better-skilled students into the workplace and universities
The proposal will require the approval of Congress, which is now controlled by Republicans in both chambers.
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