Maryland Community Colleges Respond to Obama Plan for Free Tuition

In a press release today, the Maryland Association of Community Colleges (MACC) announced its support for President Obama’s Plan for Free Community College.  President Obama’s new proposal includes making two years of community college free for responsible students across America.

Under this new proposal, students would be able to earn the first half of a bachelor’s degree, or earn the technical skills needed in the workforce — at no cost to them. See the White House blog and the US Department of Education’s community college page for more information, resources and details.

MACC’s press release entitled, “Benefits of Free Community College Tuition Far Outweigh Costs” describes:

The Maryland Association of Community Colleges (MACC) strongly supports expanding access to postsecondary education for Marylanders and Americans, as expressed in President Obama’s initiative announced January 9. The President’s bold announcement elevates dialogue on this critical issue to the national arena, and encourages collaboration between state and federal agencies in addressing the widening skills gap and its dragging effect on the economy.

“The fact that 80% of all future jobs in Maryland will need workers with the education levels that community colleges provide, coupled with economists’ assertions that high student debt levels can limit local economic growth, mean that it is time for new approaches to developing Maryland’s 21st century workforce,” said Dr. Bernie Sadusky, Executive Director of Maryland Association of Community Colleges. “Community colleges are uniquely positioned to meet this challenge. Moreover, MACC is ready to work with state and federal agencies to design a free post-secondary tuition program that would achieve state and national educational and workforce development goals.”

For more information, see the Maryland Association of Community Colleges.