Local educators, students react to president’s free college proposal

“If it costs nothing to go to school you would think it would be attractive to people that are having a hard time paying for school,” said Eastern Idaho Technical College President, Steven Albiston.

Albiston thinks this plan could make dreams a reality for some in eastern Idaho.

“Those individuals who chose not to relocate, or financially can’t relocate it provides access for them,” said Albiston.

If all 50 states implemented the proposal, it could benefit roughly 9 million students by saving them up to $3,800 in tuition each year.

“That would be beneficial for each student going into a community college and having that free, they’d be able to spend more time studying instead of going and working to make that extra money to pay off their books and materials and things like that,” said nursing student Chris Jankowski.

Bonneville High School guidance councilor Jared Smith doesn’t agree he thinks it will encourage students to go to college just because they wouldn’t have to pay for it.

“The idea of getting a free education from the government is kind of misrepresented there are programs out there that will help kids go to college if they are really ready and committed to go to college without introducing another program,” said Smith.

In the plan, federal funding would cover three-quarters of tuition and states that participate would be expected to contribute the remaining funds.

“So taking money out of more education programs at that level, a high school level, and putting it into higher education just weakens our education system,” said Smith.

To be eligible for the program, students would have to attend community college at least part time, maintain a 2.5 GPA, and make steady progress toward completing their program.

The White House says that by 2020, an estimated 35 percent of job openings will require at least a bachelor’s degree, and 30 percent will require some college or an associate degree.