Statesman Journal
June 30th, 2015
A year from now, recent Oregon high school graduates who maintain a 2.5 GPA, and who accept available state and federal grants, could be eligible for a tuition waiver at an Oregon community college.
A bill that passed the Joint Committee on Ways and Means on Monday would allow qualifying students to receive a waiver of their tuition through the Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC).
The original language of SB 81 struck discord among community college leaders and associations, who contended that the bill was impractical because there was not enough infrastructure or funding to serve the additional students the program would bring in.
Opponents said the bill would give more access to community colleges, but it didn’t ensure support for students while they’re in school or help them complete a degree or certificate program. The state’s community college completion rate sits at about 24 percent statewide, according to a recent audit by the Secretary of State’s Office. (That completion rate did not account for transfer students, who reportedly make up an additional 30 percent.)