2 • 27 • 2015 Obama community college plan still up in the air

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2 ? 27 ? 2015

Obama community college plan still up in the air

Kat Pflug

Managing Editor

"I'm sending this Congress a bold new plan to lower the cost of community college--to zero," touted President Obama in his annual State of the Union address. The President cited fairness to students and concern for the nation's future economic health as two motivating factors in his administration's introduction of their new community college plan. "Whoever you are," said the President, "this plan is your chance to graduate ready for the new economy, without a load of debt."

Obama's "America's College Promise" (ACP) plan will, according to the official White House press release, "make two years of community college free for responsible students, letting students earn the first half of a bachelor's degree and learn skills needed in the workforce at no cost."

While the prospect of free college, or, at least, community college, seems to be an egg that could only be served sunny-side up, resistance to the President's plan has risen from among the ranks of Capitol Hill.

According to CNN, most Republicans are uneasy about the projected $60 billion price tag (over the next ten years) of the proposal. Even Senator Angus King (I-ME) had a bit of sticker shock, calling the projection "a big number." And although King supports Obama's idea, he said he wouldn't endorse ACP until he reviews the details of the plan's funding mechanism, which have yet to be announced or publicly discussed.

The general framework set up by the White House so far is to split the tab between the federal and state governments.

"Federal funding will cover three-quarters of the average cost of community college," says the White House.

"States that choose to participate will be expected to contribute the remaining funds necessary to eliminate community college tuition for eligible students." The White House also noted that "states that already invest more and charge students less can make smaller contributes," but that all participating states will be required to pay part of the bill.

Aside from concerns about who will be footing the bill, others, especially those in the education community, are interested in seeing more specific qualifications for student

" Whoever you are,

this plan is your

chance to gradu-

ate ready for the

new economy,

without a load of

debt.

"

participation in the program. So far, the White House has only stipulated the students must "attend at least half-time, maintain a 2.5 GPA while in college, and make steady progress toward completing their program" to have their tuition covered.

"I would like to see what the parameters are for students to use the community college opportunity," Connie Eichhorn, Director of Secondary Partnerships at MCC, said. "For example, must the student enroll in specific plans of study? What is the timeline for completion of a program?

Are there income guidelines for a prospective student to apply for the scholarship?" The answers to Eichhorn's questions have yet to be supplied to the public.

ACP is inspired in part by similar programs starting up in Chicago and Tennessee. The "Tennessee Promise," launched under Republican Governor Bill Haslam about a year ago, aims to help students close the gap between the aid they already receive and the cost of tuition at their community college.

It should be noted however, that neither the current programs in Tennessee and Chicago, nor the Obama administration's recent proposal, will actually make community college "free." All of the plans merely help students with the cost of tuition, which, according to the College Board, when combined with general fees (which are not covered by ACP), only account for roughly 21 percent of the actual cost of attending such an institution, leaving the student responsible for other expenses such as room & board, transportation, and books.

Another factor to consider is what programs states and other local institutions already have in place, like Millard South's partnerships with University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and Metropolitan Community College (MCC) through dual enrollment and the Early College Program. Will Obama's proposed program adversely affect local efforts with the same endgame?

"I, personally, do not see [the ACP] replacing the current MCC partnerships with high school districts," Eichhorn said. "I believe high school districts want to continue to offer college courses at the high school to prepare students for postsecondary education, and, perhaps, to help students better define career areas of choice."

Archaic registration process finally gets digitized

Kiley Goodman

Features Editor

Registering for classes is an annual process that all students, with the exception of seniors, must go through. A couple days are set aside for an extended Pride Time to ensure that students have help available to them when choosing courses for the following school year. Students took advantage of this extra time when registering for classes this year, being that it was the first year that the registration process was online rather than on paper.

"I think it is good that the school is teaching students responsibility by having them register themselves for classes," sophomore Justin Fast said.

When registering for classes in past years, students would receive a book with all of the courses offered, their transcript, and a rough draft sheet to fill in classes they wished to sign up for. Students would then fill out the rough draft schedule and make an appointment with their Pride Time advisor for their parents and them to come in and make the schedule official. At the advisement meeting, the schedule would be transferred onto a triplicate form, which is a paper form with two extra copies. This registration process used a lot of unnecessary paper.

Students registering for 2015-2016 classes experienced the new registration process for the first time. Students now register for their classes online via Infinite Campus. The new process was designed to be easy and efficient for students and staff to use. All students had to do was click on the register tab, and then type the course name or the course number and click request course. One of the only issues that came up when registering was when students attempted to find a course by its

name and it did not show up. This registration system, this problem Secretary to the Registrar Tracy

only needed change is one that

issue was due to the lack of char- is eliminated. It also cuts out

Hancock. Hancock would have

will allow incoming freshmen to

acter space on Infinite Campus,

all of the time that staff spends

to make sure they were put on

register online, as they will still be

so most classes had shortened

transferring paper schedules to

triplicate forms correctly.

registering with paper forms this

names. Students were unaware of digital ones. The reduction of

"The process of inputting

year. There will only be about 600

this. This issue is one that is easily paper usage in the process is also schedules took a solid three weeks incoming freshmen registered on

solved; students in future years

one of the main improvements. In to complete," she said.

triplicate forms and manually put

will be instructed to use the course previous years, the paper sched- The new system has worked so

into the electronic system for the

number option to find classes.

ules would have to be put in the smoothly that few changes will be following school year.

"I absolutely consider the

electronic system by hand by

made to it in the near future. The

online registration process a

success," assistant principle

Matt Fedde said. "The bulk of responses I have heard are how easy it was to put the

Varsity cheer earns 4th state title

classes into the system, and,

from a teacher standpoint, how

nice it is to be reducing our

paper usage."

The feedback from

students and staff has been

mostly positive regarding the

new registration process. Many

feel that it is simpler and less

time-consuming than the tradi-

tional paper registration. While

both registration systems were

rather simple, the new elec-

tronic version decreases time

and work needed. Hopes for

the following years are that,

once advisors and students are

accustomed to the new system,

the process will run more

smoothly.

"Giving the students the

ability to sign up for classes

electronically is a better use of

time and resources," counselor

Joseph Mlnarik said.

Having students digitally

request courses reportedly has

several benefits, one being that

it enables administration to

sooner find out staffing needs

for the following year. Every

year there are teachers who

either move away or retire,

which could lead to the need

to hire a replacement. With the

paper-based system adminis-

The newly-crowned State Champion "4peat" Varsity Cheer Squad. Front: Emily Fowler, Brianna Ledger, Kayla Rodriguez,

tration would not be sure of

Rachel Teaford, Allison Elsasser, Kylie Beedle-Carter. Row 2: Aubrey Nicholas, Olivia Hunt, Hannah Webber,

staffing needs until around

Anna Vickers, Taylor Riggs, Nicole Jarzobski, Krystal Camron, Jacie Shandera.

April, meaning job postings

would go up late in the hiring

season. However, with the new

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