|
Editorial: Better, smarter workforce
Op-Ed · January 30, 2015
Free community college sounded good at first mention during President Obama’s State of the Union address, but we think there are more practical ways of producing a more-educated workforce.
We agree that, to compete in a global marketplace, Americans will need better training to secure jobs. And, as Obama mentioned, 40 percent of college students choose to start at community colleges like Kirkwood, primarily to save money.
Based on information from their own Web sites, two years of Kirkwood for an Iowa resident taking a full load would run about $9,000 for two years, compared to more than $16,000 for the University of Iowa, not including housing, meals, books, supplies, transportation, etc. Living on campus at UI can run about $21,000 a year — $42,000 for two years — with all those additional costs, most of which would be absorbed in student loans and paid back later, with interest, of course.
The president’s goal of a more-educated workforce is a great goal, pure and simple. But when the White House released plan details days after the speech, it turns out it would cost taxpayers some $60 billion over 10 years and requires states to pick up 25 percent of the cost. In rough math, that means the average state would have to pay about $300 million over the next 10 years. Ouch.
While we love our state universities, their course offerings, athletics, fine arts and numerous student groups, it seems a much more cost-effective idea would be for state and federal governments to heavily promote the savings provided by community colleges. We think many, especially those trying to re-enter the workforce, would be surprised by the affordability and be more likely to enroll.
And while the president said his plan would make community college “as free and universal in America as high school is today,” we all know high school is not free. Even with property taxes and state aid, the average family has to pay some enrollment costs.
However, West Branch High School Principal Shannon Bucknell pointed out that some 65 to 70 percent of the senior class enrolls in dual credit or Advanced Placement courses, as well as about 30 percent of the junior class. And WBHS estimates 30 to 40 students taking classes at Kirkwood’s Regional Center when it opens this fall. While there likely will be overlap with students taking dual credit and AP courses, the fact remains that, as Bucknell stated, there is a “culture” at WBHS toward taking classes that can earn college credit.
That so, many West Branch students are taking a bite out of college costs now, with some graduating from high school with as much as or even more than a year of college already complete.
This approach instills personal effort, academic accomplishment and a healthy pride in students that will pay more dividends than just their ability to pay back student loans.
We would encourage our legislators to find ways to push these two initiatives as a way to build a more-educated workforce at a lower cost.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
