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EGCC already offers grant similar to president’s proposal
By Denise Dick
YOUNGSTOWN
President Barack Obama’s plan to make community college free for all students who maintain a certain grade-point average already is in place at Eastern Gateway Community College.
That’s why EGCC President Laura Meeks and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, plan to write a letter to the president, inviting him to visit and see how it works.
“In eastern Ohio, we do that very thing,” Meeks said.
Under what’s called America’s College Promise, Obama’s proposal would make the first two years of community college free for students who maintain a 2.5 GPA, attend at least part time and remain on pace to earn a two-year degree. It’s a program that would require partnership with the states.
Ryan said he applauds the president’s leadership demonstrated in the proposal.
“Eastern Gateway Community College is proof that this type of national program can and does work,” he said in an email. “For over 20 years, they have enabled high school students from our community to attend two years of college for free — giving access to higher education to thousands of our young people. This program gives students the ability to get an associate’s degree free of cost, or they can transfer credits to any university to pursue a bachelor’s degree, without having to pay for two years of credit.”
Ryan credited EGCC for being a leader on the issue.
“If we want to stay competitive as a nation, it is crucial that we continue to have the most educated and skilled workforce for generations to come,” he said. “I call on Congress to act swiftly and pass legislation to make America’s College Promise a reality.”
Obama’s proposal calls for federal funding that would cover 75 percent of the average cost of community college, but participating states would have to pick up the rest of the costs.
EGCC’s Gateway Grant at its Mahoning Valley locations and Horizon Grant in Jefferson County, where the college is based, are already in place.
Those grants offer free tuition to full-time students who have just graduated from high school. The grant is applied after the federal Pell grant. If a student qualifies for a Pell grant, those dollars are applied to tuition first. The Gateway Grant will pick up remaining costs in those cases. A student, however, need not qualify for Pell to get a Gateway/Horizon grant. Those students also must maintain a 2.5 GPA.
The Gateway Grant is in its third year, and the program has been in place at the Jefferson County campus for about 20 years.
Funding comes from college funds, so the president’s proposal would free up some budget dollars for other purposes.
This year, 129 students are taking advantage of the Horizon Grant at a cost of $315,094. Seventy-three students are recipients of the Gateway Grant at a cost to the college of $183,532.
The program was started by Meeks’ predecessor.
“I think we were one of the first in the nation to have it,” she said.
In Jefferson County, about 30 percent of high school students attend EGCC using the grant.
“In the Mahoning Valley, people are just learning about it,” Meeks said.
Once it catches on, the college expects to see 30 percent of Valley residents following suit, Meeks said.
“Many of these students go on to universities” to earn their bachelor degrees, she said.
The program allows students to complete two years of college tuition-free. Those who need to secure loans to complete a bachelor’s degree aren’t saddled with as much debt upon graduation.