Free College Tuition Invests in Human Capital: WCC President

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — The president of Westchester Community College supports New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's new plan to make college more accessible for the middle and working class.

Nearly one million students from middle- and working-class families attending public colleges and universities in New York state would no longer pay tuition if an unprecedented scholarship plan proposed Tuesday by Cuomo makes it through the state legislature.

Cuomo announced the plan at a Tuesday morning press conference alongside Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

"The American Dream lives in the state of New York and nobody is taking it away," Cuomo said. "And that's what this program is about."

The Governor's plan — which he's calling the "Excelsior Scholarship" — would make tuition free at State University of New York (SUNY) campuses, City University of New York (CUNY) campuses and two-year community colleges for students whose families earn less than $125,000 per year, Cuomo said Tuesday at LaGuardia Community College in Queens. The plan would cost the state an estimated $163 million per year once it is fully phased in, according to a press release from Cuomo's office.

Dr. Belinda S. Miles, President, Westchester Community College said that given the need for education past high school in the 21st century economy, real access to college is a must.

Scientific evidence shows the positive correlation between higher education attainment and such outcomes as earnings, social mobility, health factors and civic engagement.

But public investment in public colleges and universities has shrunk since the 1980s, and the college attendance gap between rich and poor has grown. In 2012, 82 percent of 18- to 24-year-old Americans from the top family income quartile participated in college, compared with just 45 percent of those in the bottom quartile, according to a 2015 report from the Pell Institute.

"Removing the affordability barrier is one of the fundamental aspects of the community college “open door” access mission," Miles said. "Some people believe that since community colleges are priced affordably, there is no need for financial aid and other support for incoming students. This is not always the case."

Here is her full statement:

As Westchester County’s largest educational institution, we support the plan to make college more affordable for those seeking relevant 21 st Century skills to support themselves and their families. This proposal would help increase access to higher education throughout New York State and help students improve their lives in the future.

As more students enter community colleges and complete their studies, they will be positioned to transition to four-year institutions and the workplace where there is a need to fill openings in growing fields such as healthcare, analytics, and information technology.

Removing the affordability barrier is one of the fundamental aspects of the community college “open door” access mission. Some people believe that since community colleges are priced affordably, there is no need for financial aid and other support for incoming students. This is not always the case. Many of our students need scholarships and state and federal financial aid in addition to loans. Directing new financial resources to talent development in New York is a necessary investment that will reap benefits locally, regionally, and nationally.

Sanders — who campaigned for free tuition for public universities during his 2016 run for president — echoed Cuomo's statements that a changing economy requires a well-educated workforce. Thirty years ago the United States had the highest percentage of college-educated citizens but now ranks No. 11, Sanders said Tuesday.
Sanders predicted Tuesday that if New York passes a plan to provide free tuition for public colleges and universities that other states would soon follow suit.

"If the United States is to succeed in a highly competitive global economy, we need the best educated workforce in the world," Sanders said. "With exploding technology, and with most of the good paying jobs requiring more and more education, we need to make certain that every New Yorker, every Vermonter and every American gets all the education they need regardless of family income."

PHOTO/WCC