Editorial: Imagine the possibilities of Harper's promise of free college tuition
Give a moment to this intriguing paragraph that opens a marketing message that Harper College in Palatine is to begin circulating Monday:
"What if we could promise every public high school student in the Northwest suburbs two years of college tuition free if they're willing to earn it? Think of the possibilities for students, parents and our local workforce. Two years of college. Tuition free."
Lately, it seems like the only news any of us hears out of community colleges comes from the raging controversies at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn.
It is refreshing that Harper is making news today out of its mission, the reason every community college in Illinois exists: to offer affordable educational opportunities to everyone in the community and to make life, our communities and society better in the process.
As outlined by Staff Writer Katlyn Smith's exclusive report in the Daily Herald today, the groundbreaking Harper Promise Scholarship attempts to build a model similar to those proposed nationally by President Barack Obama and next door by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel ... but not quite.
This promise is the ambitious product of the working-relationship alliance Harper has built with the suburban school districts in its boundaries as well as with engaged local business leaders,
That network and the Harper Promise program that it has conceived both owe credit in no small measure to the altruistic vision of Harper College President Ken Ender. We congratulate him and all the others who are working so hard to raise the level of education of all young people in our community. It truly is vital and rewarding work.
This program offers two free years of community college to every public school student within Harper's borders - Districts 211, 214 and 220 - as long as they make a commitment to success.
In other words, this is the promise to students as long as they agree to maintain good but attainable grades, show up for class and be on time, contribute a minimal amount of community service, pass their courses and graduate on time.
Those are not insurmountable goals. The bar isn't set so high that only a few can reach it. It's set at a reasonable level because the intent is focused less on the achievement itself than on creating constructive behaviors that provide the foundation for lifetime success. Almost any student can reach these requirements if he or she makes the commitment to doing so.
Which takes us back to that marketing message we mentioned at the beginning.
Yes, think about what this means for young people and their families who never thought college was a realistic option.
And now suddenly it is.
As the marketing message says, "Think of the possibilities."