Editorial: Incomplete grade for free community college tuition
If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. That adage seems appropriate when discussing President Obama's plan to make community college free for all.
Indeed, we have long supported the community colleges in our circulation area and believe in their importance. So it's not a tough sell to say that giving access to more students to a postsecondary education is a good thing.
But, in Illinois especially, the costs may outweigh the benefits.
"Do I think two years of college education should be available to everyone? Absolutely," said College of DuPage President Robert Breuder. "Whether the money can follow the good idea, that's yet another issue."
President Obama is expected to speak further about his idea - unveiled earlier this month - and perhaps offer more details during his State of the Union message next week. Understanding the details on how this would work and how it would be paid for - federally and statewide - must be known.
What we do know is that students eligible for the program would have to maintain a 2.5 grade-point average to continue to receive a free ride.
It would be a shared expense between the federal and state governments - with the federal government paying approximately $60 billion over the next decade to cover three-quarters of the cost. That in itself is hard to fathom.
And given the state's fiscal condition, finding money for this program is also problematic. However, with a new governor just sworn in promising to clean things up financially while also focusing on improving education, it at least should be a topic of discussion in Springfield.
The proposal, even if it doesn't do all it sets out to do, "may make a dent in people's understanding that education is critical in the development of the economy," said Oakton Community College Margaret Lee.
Interestingly enough, suburban community colleges have seen enrollments decline the last four years, according to a story by the Daily Herald's Katlyn Smith in November. Obama's proposal would likely change that trend instantly. David Sam, Elgin Community College's president said he would expect an increase in working adults and traditional-age students taking advantage of getting a "quality education without going into debt."
We also suspect that the proposal could lead to a good analysis of how community colleges are spending the money that comes in today and whether priorities at the local level might be altered to free up money for a program of this type.
Our advice to potential students is not to count on any help of this kind soon. But to our politicians, we say help prove us wrong by devising a workable, realistic plan.