https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 03 May 2026 00:20:49 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2016703 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 11:19:07 +0000 lemondrop 2016703@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes! Our country needs to value and make higher education more affordable! I teach at a for profit (but smaller family run) college, so I'm curious how it will all pan out, but it is so, so needed! Some of my students are homeless from time to time and it breaks my heart that they are incurring more debt in loans in a profession that is more for love than money.</p> <p> One of the problems through is that the equivalent of my program at our local community college is already overrun with a huge waiting list and difficulty getting into required courses. I can only see this getting worse. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2016617 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 10:36:52 +0000 jetsa 2016617@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsKoala: my DH and I were just discussing this last night. If the state cuts go through as expected the program he graduated from may not exist in 3 years. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2016607 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 10:31:39 +0000 MrsKoala 2016607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is exactly what we need to be doing as a country in my opinion. If we want an educated workforce, we need to heavily invest in higher education. One of the major reasons that college tuition has inflated so much in the last decade is due to public institutions losing financial support from their state. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2016602 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 10:28:32 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2016602@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: Yes, FL has been working on something very similar for many years:</p> <p><a href="http://www.fldoe.org/policy/articulation" rel="nofollow">http://www.fldoe.org/policy/articulation</a> </p> <p><a href="http://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/5421/urlt/0078406-astobaccalaureate_agreemnts.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/5421/urlt/0078406-astobaccalaureate_agreemnts.pdf</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2016581 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 10:20:12 +0000 jetsa 2016581@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think this could be a great plan but there are so many issues that need to be discussed and from what I'd read online that hasn't been done yet so I think it was more of a talking point than an actual plan, but hopefully I am wrong.</p> <p>@blackbird: the system is so fraught with issues. My little sister lives with us and my mom works hard to just make ends meet. She wants to go to the local state university next year and live on campus because that is what they push down their throats in high school we looked last night she is looking at 25k+ for 1 year. She'd be going for engineering but damn that is a lot of loan to payback!</p> <p>@looch: yes exactly, I do not believe a 4 degree is needed for everything. Heck I don't use 80% of what I learned in college day to day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2016561 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 10:01:35 +0000 brownie 2016561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: california is making major headway into this. They have a new program called transfer model curriculum it is a combination of community college and the csu system to create the requirements of courses to transfer. Once the community college aligns and is approved students graduating with these transfer degrees are guaranteed to go in at the junior level in their field with no other pre requisites. This is only guaranteed to the csus but it ramps up the community college curriculum which makes them more accepted at more places. It is a fantastic opportunity. Because I agree with you on cost savings, it doesn't make sense to spend 3 years at the community college (even free) if you still pay for 3 or 4 years at the university level. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2016546 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 09:50:39 +0000 lawbee11 2016546@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: Those stats are really interesting. Thanks for sharing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2016497 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 09:24:25 +0000 yoursilverlining 2016497@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: Totally agree with everything you’ve said.<br /> I’m generally in strong favor of any program that makes higher education / advanced technical or job training more accessible – both in terms of students getting into classrooms to learn, and making learning affordable. </p> <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Agree that a 4-year degree (or any degree) definitely isn’t a magic bullet against unemployment, there was a stark difference in unemployment rates for those with 4 year degrees + vs. those without during the most recent recession. </p> <p><a href="http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_chart_001.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_chart_001.htm</a> Bureau of Labor for 2013 (other years are available)<br /> <a href="http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=561" rel="nofollow">http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=561</a> National Center for Ed. Stats</p> <p>I totally agree with you on seeing strengthened high school curriculums around the country; but that takes $$ too and so many places won't vote to pay for it. :/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2016496 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 09:24:07 +0000 blackbird 2016496@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Ack I hadn't thought of that. Our community college offers EMT programs and the like....but I agree, we seem to want everyone to be super educated for careers that it, frankly, makes no sense for them to be. Those programs could easily get so saturated with students that the job market is super slim pickings when they get out, too..... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2016485 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 09:14:03 +0000 looch 2016485@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: I love the idea of free college IF the job market likes the idea of free college. </p> <p>What worries me is that if we have some free college and some paid college, the job market is going to discount the free college as not being good enough/equivalent and then, what's the point?</p> <p>I think we need to look at the degree programs and filter out what needs a degree and what doesn't. Like if you want to be a straight up bookkeeper, do you need a 4 year degree from a college, or would a 2 year associates be sufficient? I think it's great that we want a highly educated workforce, but are we educating them in the right things, especially considering the costs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2016481 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 09:10:16 +0000 blackbird 2016481@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: The worst professors I had were researchers. There just for research money. Hated it. </p> <p>I love the idea of free college, though! Seems like they have appropriate funding for it, too. I feel like I'm perpetually dabbling in community college classes but since i live in the county, it's $99/credit, so super cheap. Curious to see how this pans out...college in America is so fraught with issues nowadays. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2016478 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 09:08:14 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2016478@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@dagret: Ok, my point is the "cost of doing business" has to be paid from somewhere. It costs quite a bit of money to administer those placement tests (they try to keep them updated to latest standards, transition them to computer based tests, etc). To run those remedial courses costs teacher time, facilities use, etc. The "cost" has to be paid from somewhere. Either from the student, the state, or the feds. </p> <p>I agree with the idea of making it more accessible, I just think its more than just offering free college credits. </p> <p>As you said, many do use it as a stepping stone to a bachelors degree, but if universities are not going to honor the community college credits then it was a waste of time for the students and the system. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2016388 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 07:24:04 +0000 looch 2016388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: This is my thinking exactly wrt to apprenticeship programs.</p> <p>I think college in America needs a serious overhaul. The professor as researcher model, while valuable, isn't the only or best answer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2016385 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 07:11:10 +0000 dagret 2016385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: the colleges administer placement tests. To my knowledge, they don't cost anything in PA at any of our CCs, for at least the first testing round and possibly the second. It's part of the cost of doing business. Remedial classes are very often part of the cc student course load, even if they aren't getting credit for them. It is unfortunate what many students don't know/aren't capable of when they graduate with a high school diploma. Remediation is a very large part of what happens on community college campuses. </p> <p>On the other hand, believe it or not, *many* students use community Colege as a stepping stone to a bachelors degree, transferring from CCs to state schools, private schools, and some of them go on to to tier Ivy League schools. So this plan could do a lot to reduce the cost burden of higher education in the US. </p> <p>This program could be used to pay for certificate programs, too- just because the program will cover 2 yrs of school doesn't mean that everyone will be shunted into an associates degree. </p> <p>@brownie: exactly!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2016328 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 01:05:20 +0000 hummusgirl 2016328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds like solid plan. Obama is on fire these days! :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2016327 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 00:53:01 +0000 brownie 2016327@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: and by making it affordable (free) we can actually open up more time for students to be students. Right now many students take forever to finish because they can't devote the time to it (for family and for jobs). The students I see are often juggling jobs, living on their own/families and education. They can't put in 10 hours a week for 4 classes and 40 hot work weeks to pay for it (often at low wages). This could lead to longer class time but less out of class time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2016324 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 00:47:06 +0000 brownie 2016324@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I could see either way. I think true apprenticeship programs would be fantastic. Starting apprenticeships in high school (as well as minimal standard of college prep classes to keep options open) would get kids on their way. Instead of getting rid of shop classes. I think moving some career degrees out of the university level and making universities the liberal arts experimentation they were originally would be good too. And recognizing that not every job needs a bachelors just to prove something is important. Two year degrees often get considered to be not as good but I think they can be as good and even better because they are more typically taught by people who have done it (again looking at career oriented degrees not English or history or engineering). At university most professors haven't worked in the industry and are often focused on research not teaching. This wouldn't be a bad thing if universities in general where more focused on research (they used to be) than educating but they aren't. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2016318 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 00:33:22 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2016318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: ok, I see the connection you are making now. Do you think AA and bachelor degrees for some of these jobs is a good idea? Instead of raising the bar for additional study &amp; coursework, I would love to see strengthened HS curriculm and tracts that prepare students for the workforce. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2016313 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 00:19:23 +0000 brownie 2016313@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: no it does not mean they automatically are on assistance. But as a society we already pay into many different systems. (Those were two off the top of my head) that may actually go down with more education. These days most (not all) jobs do require some sort of education past high school (this includes apprenticeship and technical like auto repair programs). Even most management jobs at places like fast food want a two year degree. Minimum wage is not enough to live on even for a year to get on their feet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2016311 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 00:13:35 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2016311@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: oh my! That was a mouthful. Lol</p> <p>During the most recent recession I recall many college educated people lost their jobs and were unemployed for a long time. A degree doesn't insulate one completely from an economic down turn. Just anecdotally, my aunt and her son went straight from HS to work and have steadily been employed with the same organization ever since. Not going to school doesn't mean one be will certainly draw on other government programs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2016308 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 00:05:54 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2016308@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@keepcalmcarrie: ok, I can get behind that. In the linked article 75% of the funding will come from the Federal Governement. In that case we're talking about more taxes or more deficits. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2016307 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 00:05:30 +0000 brownie 2016307@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would love to see it but I am biased as a community college teacher. It would make goals for students and a pipeline to university. If they could move a few career oriented 4 year degrees down (nursing, early childhood ed and even teaching) it would be even better. We all pay for it. Either now or in the future because we pay unemployment and welfare... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2016305 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 00:01:06 +0000 keepcalmcarrie 2016305@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: There are many options for funding - the TN program uses state lottery funds. </p> <p>I think it's an awesome proposal! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2016303 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 23:55:53 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2016303@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Noooo, who's going to pay for this?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2016300 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 23:53:00 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2016300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@dagret: I get open programs but I find it hard to believe they don't require some sort of placement test. </p> <p>Someone has to pay for that remediation. Either the student or the system. But bottom line is its extra costs for "courses" even though they aren't earning credit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2015982 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 20:34:21 +0000 dagret 2015982@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: many community colleges are open access - meaning, no entrance exams. All of PA's are. Community colleges already do have extensive remediation programs in place - they are generally part of a large portion of cc students' curriculum. </p> <p>It varies by state but PA has a very extensive network of articulation agreements bt CCs and 4 yr colleges. </p> <p>The needs of cc students and the current systems' ability to meet this program demand will vary widely across the country. From what I read, the president envisions it as a program with federal-state components, so if enacted, each state would probably build their own program within the federal guidelines. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2015971 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 20:25:17 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2015971@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think two key things need to be addressed :</p> <p>1) entrance exams and who foots the bill for students that need remediation before even earning college credit </p> <p>2) articulation agreements with universities so that students can continue for a bachelors degree without having to retake credits. </p> <p>Florida has challenged colleges to work to offer $10k bachelors degree programs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2015963 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 20:21:51 +0000 dagret 2015963@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He wants to launch a national program modeled after the Tennessee Promise. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2015958 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 20:19:16 +0000 jhd 2015958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: oh ok I think I misread the quote! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/free-community-college#post-2015948 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 20:14:04 +0000 lawbee11 2015948@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: @Torchwood: I'm pretty sure it's for the entire country. He's just announcing it while physically in TN? </p>