Two-Year Schools Waiving Tuition For Laid-Off Workers
Typically, when the economy is down, enrollment is up at the
nation’s community colleges. However, in the current economy, in
which the unemployment rate is at a record high, Americans who find
themselves recently unemployed can’t afford to further their
education even at inexpensive local institutions.
In an effort to help, some community colleges in Pennsylvania are
waiving tuition for local residents who were recently laid-off,
reports Inside Higher Ed (“The Jobless Discount,” Dec. 5, 2008).
Reading Area Community College in Reading, Pa., extends a waiver to
local residents who have been laid off within a year of applying to
the school. The waiver, which represents a potential savings of
$962, is valid for one semester to qualified students for up to 13
credits.
The tuition waiver benefits both students and the institution, since
RACC students will get financial assistance furthering their
education in the hopes that they’ll continue their education and
become paying students once they’re employed, said David Zimmerman,
a career services officer at RACC.
“It’s good will, and it’s good PR,” Zimmerman said. “It helps the
community and helps people get back into the work force.”
This year, participation in the tuition waiver program is higher
than in previous years, Zimmerman said. He speculates the closing of
two local business plants owned by the Hershey Company and Tyco
Electronics Corporation may be contributing to the spike in
interest.
Tuition Waivers May Cost Pa. School $100,000 in Lost Revenue
Northampton Community College, located in Bethlehem, Pa. announced
that starting next semester it would begin waiving tuition for those
who were recently laid off due to plant or local business closings.
Under the waiver, qualified students will be able to take a maximum
of 12 credits at a reduced cost beginning in January 2009. Students
would be required to pay $28 in fees per credit, for a total savings
of $900. The number of students allowed to enroll under the waiver
program would be limited to the number of empty seats available in
each class section.
Northampton President Arthur Scott said offering a tuition waiver
may cost his school more than $100,000, because the school isn’t
adding sections or other resources to accommodate for students who
take advantage of the waiver, meaning the waiver isn’t considered an
institutional expense, but rather lost revenue.