Tennessee House passes free community college bill

[EC]

NASHVILLE (AP) - The Tennessee House has passed a bill that lets older adults without a college degree or certificate attend community college free of charge.

The bill, which was pushed by Republican Gov. Bill Haslam, comes three years after Tennessee became the first state in the nation to allow new high school graduates to receive free community college. The state currently offers free tuition to all adults at Tennessee's technical schools.

The bill, which still has to clear the Senate, passed 87-6.

The program is expected to cost the state $11 million after it is fully implemented. Officials say lottery proceeds will pay for the program.

If the bill becomes law, both full and part-time students would be eligible to participate as early as fall 2018.

http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/35143599/tennessee-house-passes-free-community-college-bill

[Wingnut]

 "older adults without a college degree or certificate attend community college free of charge."

How "Old" is Older?

[truth_seeker]

Fifty years ago, California Community Colleges were essentially *free for high school grads.

High schools and the CC also had adult classes, to reach a HS diploma.

Essentially *free=very low cost. Even the California State University system was low cost.

(State University system=San Diego, Long Beach, San Jose, Fullerton, etc.)

The community college tuition in my district is now about $2,300 ($190 per unit)

The State University tuition is now about $6,000 per year.

Still both pretty low, compared to other states. Don't know however.

[Frank Cannon]

To borrow a line from PJ O'rourke, if you think college is expensive now, wait till it's free.

[Wingnut]

To borrow a line from PJ O'rourke, if you think college is expensive now, wait till it's free.

QFT!

[geronl]

More liberal-socialism-populism

[geronl]

Fifty years ago, California Community Colleges were essentially *free for high school grads.

High schools and the CC also had adult classes, to reach a HS diploma.

Essentially *free=very low cost. Even the California State University system was low cost.

probably a billion dollars funded by taxpayers

[geronl]

"older adults without a college degree or certificate attend community college free of charge."

How "Old" is Older?

old enough not to be included on the ObamaCare plans of their parents?

[Fishrrman]

Seems as I recall I paid around $150 or so per semester in community college.
But that was in 1972!

[truth_seeker]

Seems as I recall I paid around $150 or so per semester in community college.
But that was in 1972!

That was the point of my post, above. About $150 seems right to me, if that much.

[goatprairie]

Forty years ago tuition at a state run technical school in Wisconsin was virtually free except for a few book costs here and there. Now it's a little more costly.  I have no problem with states doing these sorts of things. Federalism.

[kevindavis007]

Forty years ago tuition at a state run technical school in Wisconsin was virtually free except for a few book costs here and there. Now it's a little more costly.  I have no problem with states doing these sorts of things. Federalism.

Ditto.. I don't care if New York or Tennessee does it.. Just as long the states do it I don't care. I would care if the Feds do it.

[HoustonSam]

I began my education at a Tennessee Community College in the fall of 1980.  As I recall my tuition was around $120/quarter for a full load, and my books were about that much again.  Paid for with a night job in a local grocery store.

As a generality I think it's likely a mistake to offer post-high-school education "for free", since it's not free until the professors, secretaries, coaches, maintenance crews, etc all volunteer 100% of their time, the utilities are all donated, the land is free, etc.  But the incremental burden of providing Community College free-of-additional-charge for older people seems pretty minimal.  The retired folks in my classes offered some good perspective that the profs couldn't match and in so doing, in my opinion, earned their seats.  One man I met had flown B-29s off Guam, and coincidentally later went on to work with my father in one of the larger local manufacturing sites.

[Cripplecreek]

I hope these community colleges receive 0 federal funds.

I know that what happened to our local community college has been a disgrace. It used to be a true community college where kids went to get a head start before going to a 4 year university or adults took night classes to get a welding or electrical certification. It was cheap and available.

Today they want to treat it like a 4 year university with prices and requisite courses to match. They have even built dorms for those poor suffering students who live more than 20 minutes away. For my adult sister to get her business degree required an orientation course in how to socialize in college with kids younger than her own for nearly $600.

[rodamala]

And to think... I pounded spikes on the track gang for 5 years after HS so I could save the money to pay for engineering school.

SUCKER!

[EC]

I'm in favor of what used to be called adult education. My Dad got his engineering degree when I were in high school (he left school at 14) and finally got his M.Sc two days before his 70th birthday. Mom's B.Lit graduation was the week after my B.Sc. graduation.

[Sanguine]

Fifty years ago, California Community Colleges were essentially *free for high school grads.

High schools and the CC also had adult classes, to reach a HS diploma.

Essentially *free=very low cost. Even the California State University system was low cost.

(State University system=San Diego, Long Beach, San Jose, Fullerton, etc.)

The community college tuition in my district is now about $2,300 ($190 per unit)

The State University tuition is now about $6,000 per year.

Still both pretty low, compared to other states. Don't know however.

So, how does the state pay for all of that?

[geronl]

So, how does the state pay for all of that?

Highway to bankruptcy

[Sanguine]

Highway to bankruptcy

I know; it was a rhetorical question.

[Hondo69]

The program is expected to cost the state $11 million after it is fully implemented. Officials say lottery proceeds will pay for the program.

In a perfect world, if the program costs go even so much as a penny over the $11 million promised the wheels of justice kick into high gear.  The program is ended immediately, the taxpayers are refunded every dollar spent to date, and every politician who voted for the boondoggle goes to jail and spends the rest of their years busting rocks.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

One side effect of making community colleges free for students may be to encourage cost-cutting by regular 4 year colleges.  Still don't support tuition-free community colleges, because if a community college is providing enough value, it will be able to get students without making it tuition-free.  But I do think the growth in community colleges in general is a positive development.

[andy58-in-nh]

Any meaningful truth in labeling would demand that the words "free tuition" be replaced by "taxpayer-funded tuition".

But we wouldn't want to hurt anyone's feelings, or deny their sense of entitlement, now would we? 

[Sanguine]

One side effect of making community colleges free for students may be to encourage cost-cutting by regular 4 year colleges.  Still don't support it, because if a community college is providing enough value, it will be able to get students without making it tuition-free.  But I do think the growth in community colleges in general is a positive development.

If they are made free to the student they will also become quality-free.  Just a fact of life that that which costs you nothing is worth little or nothing to you.

[Wingnut]

If they are made free to the student they will also become quality-free.  Just a fact of life that that which costs you nothing is worth little or nothing to you.

Excellent point.  If States want to give away college education it should come with a cost.  Community service requirements.  Or a Work program that benefits the school.  There should be some skin in the game to make it have value to the recipient.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

If they are made free to the student they will also become quality-free.  Just a fact of life that that which costs you nothing is worth little or nothing to you.

And they'll start inflating their costs to take advantage of the fact that the government is now paying for it.

The community college movement was doing well on its own.  More and more students were turning to them rather than overpaying for 4 year colleges, which have become as much about a social experience as actually learning.