During the summer meeting of JFF’s Postsecondary
State Network, several Trust members shared with fellow
practitioners from 16 states how they are wrestling with two particular
campaign issues regarding postsecondary success—college promise and dual
enrollment.
How Will You Tackle College Promise?
A top concern for Trust members is college promise—the
concept of making college affordable by allowing students to attend the first
two years for free. Many candidates are pitching free college as a vehicle for boosting
postsecondary enrollment and attracting or retaining individuals and families
in their states and districts. Despite the high expectations these programs
have produced, the
limited
impact on community college students had Trust members questioning whether
“free” college is a promise worth making.
Some emphasized that policymakers must be transparent about
the full cost of attending college. Others expressed the need to move away from
calling promise programs “free” because students must bear other large costs—like
housing, food, and transportation expenses.
Trust members grappled with the implications for
institutions—specifically, whether state funding for promise scholarships would
be better spent on curtailing the cost of tuition. They also worried that the
influx of promise students might overwhelm campus staff who provide advising
and student services. Members suggested that states with promise programs could
provide colleges with funding to hire more advisers and boost student services.
Finally, for some Trust members, the notion of “free
college” is synonymous with “low value,” a message that institutions do not want
to send to students and families. Members championed an update to the language
and communications around promise programs. Changing the narrative would allow
for clarity on both the quality and financial ramifications of promise
programs.
We urge policymakers to listen closely to practitioners when
designing new college promise programs to ensure the programs deliver on their
central commitment.