Community Electric Cooperative’s Post

📰 Great piece from my super-knowledgeable friend and colleague Dr. Michelle Miller-Adams! From the CommonWealth Beacon article: While #Massachusetts has long been a leader in education, other states have leapfrogged its first-in-the-nation status by providing many of their residents with access to #tuition-free college. #MassEducate, the plan released on May 6 by state Senate leaders, aims to restore the state to its leading position and educate the next generation of workers. MassEducate includes three key elements that research shows boost the success of tuition-free college programs: First, a universal community college guarantee addresses both the cost and the complexity of paying for college. Under MassEducate, the state’s community colleges would become tuition-free for all future high-school graduates. Second, the proposal includes a stipend for students from low- and middle-income families. Students from households earning up to 125 percent of the state median income ($182,000 for a family of four) would receive $1,200 each year. Lower-income students eligible for Pell Grants would receive an additional $1,200 from existing state need-based aid. Students can use these funds toward the cost of living while they are in college. Third, MassEducate would deliver a substantial 30 percent increase in funding for essential “wraparound” services at community colleges through the state’s SUCCESS program. Many students who are introduced to higher education through free tuition programs need intensive advising to help them overcome barriers, from figuring out which courses to take to building their time management skills to connecting with the right #tutoring resources on campus. Research shows that wraparound support increases the number of students who complete their program – improving the state’s return on its investment in tuition-free college. To get the maximum benefit from a tuition-free college program, policymakers should also consider investing in a comprehensive approach to college advising at the high school level. Community colleges, in turn, should prioritize helping students get real-world work experience through #internships or industry-specific pathways programs that speak to local labor market needs. For Massachusetts, a tuition-free path to a two-year degree or credential would support the state’s low- and middle-income residents, make higher education more accessible, improve skills in the workforce, and increase equity in college access. It is a crucial step in making the state a leader – once again – in responding to the educational needs of the modern economy. #PayingForCollege #CommunityColleges #StudentDebt #FinancialAid #AffordableEducation

National Consortium ✨ Ohio Wesleyan University President Matt vandenBerg, EdD is among the earliest college and university leaders nationwide to join a consortium designed to advance higher education's critical role in preparing students to be engaged citizens and in upholding civil discourse on their campuses. "Our nation and world face daunting, vexing problems too often exacerbated by an insufficiently educated populace, cultural tribalism, the dramatic erosion of civil discourse, and a reluctance to engage in constructive dialogue," said vandenBerg, Ed.D. "Working together, American higher education can help to build fundamentally stronger communities by developing more educated, engaged, grace-filled, and solutions-oriented citizens." Click the 🔗 to learn more about the consortium.

Amid much progress, there is unfinished business in the college attainment movement. And presidents of higher education institutions agree - it’s time to reimagine college and secure the promise of learning beyond high school for all Americans. Sova team member Jenny Schanker, Ed.D spoke to Makola M. Abdullah, president of Virginia State University, Bill Pink, president of Ferris State University, and William Serrata, president of El Paso Community College as presidents exploring new ideas and partnerships to revitalize learning. They called for closer partnerships with employers, a renewed focus on credentials, and the need for faculty from all academic areas—including humanities and liberal arts—to prepare students to thrive in the workforce as they work with national education leaders like Lumina Foundation to achieve its ambitious goal for 60 percent of American adults to earn a degree or high-value credential by 2025 Read more in the Road to 60 blog series: https://lnkd.in/gC4vtXnT

There may not be such a thing as a "silver bullet" when it comes to education and post-secondary success, but having lived college access and success models the last 12 years, and probably the next 12 years, Early College is as close as we have. Although Massachusetts is first in just about every education category available, we are way behind in providing access to Early College for high school students across the Commonwealth. So proud of what we have been able to do at Wentworth Institute of Technology, but the higher education industry must continue opening doors to make Early College an opportunity for all Massachusetts high school students. #earlycollege #collegeaccess

Programs like Michigan Reconnect, Futures for Frontliners and the Michigan Achievement Scholarship have helped make college affordable for so many Michiganders! Check out this article about what other states can learn from these successes in Michigan:

We start talking to students and parents in the Pedrozzi Young Scholars Program about college prep courses — known as A-G — required for admission to California’s public universities, when the students are in 6th grade. Why so early? Middle school is a great time for students to start learning how to set academic goals and challenge themselves academically. Doing so helps prepare them to hit the ground running in high school. One of our mantras is that high school graduation requirements are not the same as college admission requirements. Armed with this knowledge and our support throughout high school, students in the program have a clear road map to follow to complete the A-G courses by senior year. Doing so expands their post-secondary options.

𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐎𝐟 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐓𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐧 𝐔𝐒𝐀 Here are some colleges in the U.S. that offer FREE TUITION: 1. Alice Lloyd College (KY): A private, four-year liberal arts college in Pippa Passes, Kentucky, that offers free tuition to students from the Appalachian region. Alice Lloyd is committed to helping students from this region achieve their educational goals. 2. Antioch College (OH): A small, liberal arts college in Yellow Springs, Ohio, that offers free tuition to students who need it. Antioch is known for its progressive values, community engagement, and experiential learning. 3. Barclay College (KS): A private, four-year college in Haviland, Kansas, that offers free tuition to students who meet certain criteria. Barclay is a Christian college that focuses on developing students' spiritual and intellectual growth. 4. Berea College (KY): A private, four-year liberal arts college in Berea, Kentucky, that offers free tuition to all students. Berea is committed to providing high-quality education to students from all backgrounds. 5. Blackburn College (IL): A private, four-year liberal arts college in Carlinville, Illinois, that offers free tuition to students who meet certain criteria. Blackburn is known for its small class sizes, personalized attention, and community engagement. Note: Some of these colleges may have specific requirements or restrictions, so be sure to check their websites for more info! Share with someone who could benefit from this opportunity #FreeTuition #HigherEducation #UniversityLife #globemigrant #scholarships #studyimUSA #colleges #freecolleges

Check out this article from Representative Bobby McCool on the vital role of our Kentucky Community and Technical College System! 🎓 Investing in education isn't just about individual growth; it's about strengthening our entire community. Let's support accessible and quality education for all Kentuckians. 📚💡 https://lnkd.in/gJwVtsKA

In recent years, a growing number of states have enacted “free college” programs that guarantee all qualifying families pay no community college tuition after aid has been applied. But as TCF's Peter Granville finds, a federal solution first proposed by President Obama in 2015 and reintroduced by President Biden this year would make the cost of attending college even lower—and stretch state dollars further. By setting the cost of college tuition at $0 before other aid is factored in, America's College Promise contrasts with the “last-dollar” nature of most state promise programs—and would increase the average amount of student aid received by 56 percent—from $5,714 to $8,926.43. Read How America’s College Promise Would Reshape the Free College Landscape:

This is a really great overview from Work Shift about the growth of dual enrollment programs and options in Colorado and beyond. This is a major focus for the state. At the same time, earlier this week we reported Colorado lawmakers are analyzing this system to understand what's working best and streamline it for students. You can find our story below. And make sure you read Work Shift's story, too! https://lnkd.in/gge_zPSN