New York might be joining the movement to make higher education free. At least partially.
In her state of the state speech this week New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a plan to make the state’s community college system free – if students are pursuing degrees in certain, in-demand, fields.
If it passes, New York will join a number of other states, including California, Michigan, and Massachusetts, in offering free community college to at least some students.
New York State will make free community college available to students ages 25-55 who are pursuing degrees in fields like nursing, teaching, technology, and engineering. The initiative will include free tuition cover the costs of books and fees, and provide some career support.
This is excellent news – and programs like this in other states have proven to be successful in increasing community college enrollment. Any plan that makes college more affordable and accessible is a step in the right direction.
At the same time, we know we can go further. In addition to helping students overcome barriers to accessibility, we can reimagine college to eliminate barriers entirely.
Free Online Community College Certificates
Not only does California already offer free community college in some cases, it has established Calbright College, an open access institution, which offers free online certificate programs to all adult California residents with a high school diploma or equivalent. There are no age restrictions or costs. And because Calbright is an online community college, its classes can be taken from anywhere in California – no need to relocate or even commute.
What really places Calbright on the leading edge of accessibility, however, is its use of a Competency-Based Education model which allows students to study at their own pace, on their own schedules – whether that’s first thing in the morning, in 15 minute increments throughout the day, or last thing at night. Calbright’s classes are there whenever a student has the time, and students can move through the material as quickly or as slowly as they want.
By reducing barriers to access, Calbright keeps classes rigorous but makes college simple.
It combines this high tech approach with high touch services – each student has success counselors and coaches who know them specifically. Every Calbright student has a team working for their success. Students also have access to career services programs to help them launch into a new career successfully.
Helping more students get to college is a good step – but we can do more by reinventing college to make it accessible to everyone.
