Free College Program Proposal Gets Thumbs Up From YVCC

The President of Yakima Valley Community College says providing free community college would impact not only the valley but the state by giving more people a chance to gain a higher education. President Obama is proposing a program that would provide eligible students two years of free college. YVCC President Dr. Linda Kaminski says "I think if we can educate our own and bring people out of poverty and into good paying jobs with some education I think it benefits everybody." To be eligible, community colleges would have to offer academic programs that fully transfer credits to local public four-year colleges and universities or training programs with high graduation rates that lead to in-demand degrees and certificates. Community colleges must also adopt “promising and evidence-based institutional reforms” to improve student outcomes. Federal funding would cover three-quarters of the average cost of community college, and Obama is asking states to pick up the rest of the tab - assuming congress agrees to the plan in the first place.