Free tuition for 2 years of college?

 

How does free tuition for a year or two of community college sound?

A legislative bill proposing a massive tuition break for Oregon high school graduates hit the Senate Education Committee floor, and won quick approval, on Wednesday.

Senate Bill 1524 would have the state of Oregon pay two years of community college tuition for each of 32,000 newly minted Oregon high school grades each year.

A 5-0 favorable committee vote this week, during a abbreviated session of the Legislature this month, may lead to serious consideration of the proposal in Salem when lawmakers meet full-time in 2015.

MHCC President Debbie Derr said on Wednesday, “It makes a lot of sense. It would be wonderful because I think education is a right, not a privilege.

“But is the state going to be able to fund it? That’s the question all the (community college) presidents are asking,” she said.

Estimated cost to the state is put at $100 million to $200 million.

Supporters say the price tag of the measure outweighs the devastating burden of mounting college debt placed on many students and the cost of an under-educated workforce in Oregon.

Meantime, concerns have been raised about eligibility to receive the free tuition. Gov. John Kitzhaber recommended creating benchmarks, such as high grades before rewarding the tuition. A state senator recommended reimbursement for students only after they complete a first term or year of college.

Also, four-year universities worry about the potential drain of their future freshman and sophomore students.

The idea of free tuition might quickly gain traction, however.

Shawn Flack, a Mt. Hood student, said, “I think it would boost people going to college and lower the drop out rate of people dropping out before high school.”

Michelle Gregory, MHCC community engagement director, said, “the college is still learning as much about this proposal as everyone else… it’s pretty fresh. And certainly intriguing!”

She said that if the funding was generated through the state and given to students, there would be no financial detriment to Mt. Hood.

“If the funding were allocated to the community colleges for distribution to qualifying students, we would be facing some administrative costs to run a program,” she said. Still, “(if) the program… was popular enough we might see a rise in enrollment, which would be great news.”

Gregory cautioned, however, that the details are what would make or break the college’s position on this bill.