WHEREAS:

Every year, community colleges help Americans earn over 877,240 associate degrees, nearly 600,000 career and technical certificates and over 25,000 bachelor’s degrees; and

WHEREAS:

When institutions of higher learning are adequately funded, they are more likely to successfully retain and graduate students; and

WHEREAS:

Outstanding student loan debt now totals over $1.7 trillion, with the typical student borrowing over $30,000 to attain a bachelor’s degree; and

WHEREAS:

Community colleges serve a greater share of low-income students and students of color than four-year universities. Twenty-seven percent of community college students are Hispanic, 12% are Black, 6% are Asian American or Pacific Islander and 1% are American Indian or Alaska Native; and

WHEREAS:

Public community colleges are important workforce development centers offering affordable career education and training programs and apprenticeship instruction in fields such as health care and technical trades critical for public services. Further, they play a role in local workforce development strategies to provide training and education for jobless workers and supplement the critical reemployment function of AFSCME members working in state Employment Service agencies; and

WHEREAS:

Nonetheless, the burden of student debt falls especially hard on community college students, particularly when they are unable to complete their course of study; and

WHEREAS:

Awarding credit for prior learning recognizes college level knowledge that a student already possesses and therefore has the potential to alleviate the financial burden on that student because it reduces the number of remaining credits needed towards earning a degree; and

WHEREAS:

Around 30 states have now instituted programs offering some form of free community college for attendees.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

AFSCME supports continued efforts to make community college tuition free to the student; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

AFSCME calls on lawmakers at the federal, state and local levels to invest in the financial support of community colleges so that they can expand free credit- and non-credit program offerings and ultimately eliminate all costs to students; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

AFSCME will continue to support efforts to secure pathways to college degrees and other industry-recognized career and technical credentials by partnering with community colleges and by encouraging the expansion of awarding credit for prior learning.

SUBMITTED BY:
R. Sean Grayson, President
David Kovacs, Recording Secretary
AFSCME Council 8
Ohio