A new bill introduced by U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) would help community college students to be able to afford their education and, in turn, graduate on time.
The Community College Student Success Act would fund programs to support community college students by providing services including free tutoring, textbooks and transportation, according to Schatz's Senate website.
"Our bill gives community college students the tools they need to earn a degree and find a good-paying job," Schatz said, according to his website. "When we provide targeted support services to community college students, it helps them graduate on time. We know this works because some schools are already successfully doing this."
Schatz says that community colleges serve low-income students and students of color at far higher rates than public four-year institutions and at more than half the cost. But the downside is that community colleges graduate students at far lower rates than public four-year institutions.
"Respecting the dignity of work means ensuring students of all backgrounds have the opportunity to pursue jobs that pay well and are fulfilling. By investing in programs that provide tutoring, textbooks and transportation, we empower students to make the best decisions for their careers, whether that’s choosing to pursue additional workforce training or getting a job. I’m proud to join Sen. Schatz to support this effort," Brown said, according to Schatz's website.
The bill would provide community college students with mandatory personalized academic, career and personal advising, financial aid to cover unmet needs, tutoring services, transportation access and free textbooks.
This bill is modeled after successful similar programs like those in the City University of New York’s Accelerated Study in Associate Programs.