State of the Union & Colleges

Thursday, January 28th, 2010 by Rachel

This is taken directly from Obama’s address:

 

“When we renew the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, we will work with Congress to expand these reforms to all 50 states. Still, in this economy, a high school diploma no longer guarantees a good job. That’s why I urge the Senate to follow the House and pass a bill that will revitalize our community colleges, which are a career pathway to the children of so many working families.

 

To make college more affordable, this bill will finally end the unwarranted taxpayer subsidies that go to banks for student loans. Instead, let’s take that money and give families a $10,000 tax credit for four years of college and increase Pell Grants. And let’s tell another 1 million students that when they graduate, they will be required to pay only 10 percent of their income on student loans, and all of their debt will be forgiven after 20 years — and forgiven after 10 years if they choose a career in public service, because in the United States of America, no one should go broke because they chose to go to college.

 

And by the way, it’s time for colleges and universities to get serious about cutting their own costs — because they, too, have a responsibility to help solve this problem.”

 

Thoughts?

Comments:


  1. “…no one should go broke because they chose to go to college.” — I definitely agree! I don’t know a lot about politics, or how the policies trickle down to the general population, but I do know that *something* is working. This year, I received federal funding to get my MFA and I don’t have to pay any of it back. I don’t know why or how it worked, but I’m thankful that some changes are being made!


  2. He’s trying and that makes a huge difference. The last guy fucked me over when he changed the rules for filling out the FAFSA and suddenly my parents made enough money to pay my tuition. Only they still made the exact same amount of money. Bush is the reason I have student loans.


  3. Where is the money going to come from? Everyone goes to school for FREE how are colleges supposed to cut their costs?
    On top of it NC colleges now get funding based on how many people graduate rather than are enrolled.
    This is not a good cycle.

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