It's official: Ohio policy makers hate poor community college students.
This year, we lost the Ohio Instructional Grant (OIG). Completely. It's gone, regardless of expected family contribution, degree program, or school type. That grant used to allow thousands of low-income students to go to trade, community, and four-year institutions. It used to pay my entire tuition at Lakeland Community College. Now, the Ohio Board of Regents has seen fit to eliminate the Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG) for trade school students, community college students, and even students of regional campuses of major universities.
In other words, the Great State of Ohio has cut all funding to the people who need it the most: low-income students who just want to get into the workforce as quickly as possible, and can't afford the money- or time- to go to a university. There are thousands of students whose educations are going to be postponed, interrupted, or made entirely inaccessible because of these cuts in state funding. This is devastating to young students from poor families who've just graduated from high school. It dashes the hopes of many older students who need to expand their skills or change careers in order to remain productive in the workforce. It makes it impossible for lower income students who do not qualify for federal funds to continue their studies. It forces more students to take out student loans and incur massive amounts of debt.
It's going to hurt schools, too. Enrollment will decrease, which means tuitions will rise. Higher tuition means fewer still will be able to afford their education. It's a vicious cycle that will certainly end up costing teachers, administrators and other college employees their jobs.
Thank you, Chancellor Fingerhut, for misrepresenting yourself as a politician in favor of educational reform. As it turns out, you're just a Republican in donkey's clothing, and you've made asses of us all.
In other words, the Great State of Ohio has cut all funding to the people who need it the most: low-income students who just want to get into the workforce as quickly as possible, and can't afford the money- or time- to go to a university. There are thousands of students whose educations are going to be postponed, interrupted, or made entirely inaccessible because of these cuts in state funding. This is devastating to young students from poor families who've just graduated from high school. It dashes the hopes of many older students who need to expand their skills or change careers in order to remain productive in the workforce. It makes it impossible for lower income students who do not qualify for federal funds to continue their studies. It forces more students to take out student loans and incur massive amounts of debt.
It's going to hurt schools, too. Enrollment will decrease, which means tuitions will rise. Higher tuition means fewer still will be able to afford their education. It's a vicious cycle that will certainly end up costing teachers, administrators and other college employees their jobs.
Thank you, Chancellor Fingerhut, for misrepresenting yourself as a politician in favor of educational reform. As it turns out, you're just a Republican in donkey's clothing, and you've made asses of us all.