Student Loan Debt | Free Two Year College

In an earlier post, NO SILVERSPOON FOR YOU that
HOW TO $TUFF YOUR PIG Reblogged, I touched base on this national problem that students and former students face when it comes to Student Loan Debt.

 

 

 

http://buzzpo.com/liberal-student-demands-free-college-but-she-literally-has-no-idea-how-to-fund-it/

 

 

 

I was just going to let this one be because everyone has their own beliefs, but when one of my old Work Colleagues posted a video on FaceBook and watched this student by the name of Keely Mullen that created a movement called the Million Student March National Organizer blabber on about everything she wanted with no facts, no true concepts and making herself the Villiage Idiot or at best a Court Jester of past entertainment on National TV. But, this video did not make this member of the viewing audience laugh. The young girl recognizes that there is indeed a problem but did not provide real world solutions on how to fund the free college concept only provided what she was demanding. I did not know how to feel, whether to feel sorry for her or slap her in the face to get those marbles moving. I do face people like this where I live, I don’t slap them -just let them be and seek refuge away from them. This is a major concern to future generations. Click on above image to see the Youtube video 9-minutes, 22-secinds in length.

When faced with large complex problems sometimes it is best to stand back and look at the whole picture and then tackle a small part of the puzzle. Problems like this take time, to implement especially when we have a congress that would rather sit with a thumb up their butts each side blocking bills arguing like school children.

I personally have given great thought to this problem as a whole and while this will not help students of the past with debt there maybe some real tangible solutions for future generations. The students of the past and those with Student Loan Debt prior to July 2015 for the time being are on their own and that is entirely a different animal to content with.

The average cost to attend a two-year college according to Collegeview.com

Here is where two-year institutions shine. Since most two-year colleges are designed for commuters, students are responsible for finding their own housing and get to avoid the high costs of room and board. Two-year students get a huge break on tuition as well.

According to the College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees at a two-year school is only $3,131, just over one-third of the cost for a year at a four-year public institution.

 

Ideas on how to fund a two-year free college for future generations.

What do we need, first we need a building to house future students? In most states, there are certain buildings that are structurally sound that just sit there unoccupied while the State, City or another entity is still paying the yearly texas on said building. Make a contract with the owner of the building  where the Owner continues to pay the taxes for a said date in the future. With any building that is occupied by the living, there must be utilities, two major ones being electricity and water. This is a tougher one to accomplish but if one could find donors, similar to the Pacs that support Presidential Elections and get the Utility companies to agree to set a certain yearly price that is affordable and not price gouge like they do on regular consumers.

We are now one to two or three years in getting the building, utilities squared away. Now, during that time frame, who is going to pay for maintenance like when the plumbing messes up which can happen or the Heat/AC unit. As we all learn in life, there is no free lunch. Upon the students admission parents of said student should agree to set aside a yearly portion, this will keep the cost down for the State, City or entity that owns said building. Plus it will not just fall on one parent but by a collective group of parents, in the end the cost for those parents will be far cheaper than the alternative.  We have the Parents agreed on a set price, but what if during the two years no maintenance was required, then parents would get back a certain percentage back like 65% of total invested. 35% is retained by the school not to be put in their pockets but to be used for future maintenance or upgrades for the school that is necessary. Or better yet, that 35% was placed on the usage of books and other materials, or perhaps to be used as paying certain retained faculty in the future. Food for thought!
To reduce another cost that students face being food, one idea is to take a sack lunch for their will be no cafeteria on said campus. At least not at first. Another item to discuss is student living arrangements. Live with your parents, many students do this and I was one myself. School should be about expanding your horizons, learning all that you can and not partying or getting laid. Living in the Dorms or more modern dorms is expensive, the dorms that one University here in South Dakota has a price tag as if a person or couple were going to rent the apartment. RENT $1,100 SQUARE FEET 1,136 BED / BATH 2 bd / 2 ba

Live with your parents for the first two years while saving for the transfer to the University.

Books are another major concern for students especially when some can range anywhere between $40 to $150.00 for one book depending on the subject. California at community colleges used to have what was know as a State Bogg (Board of Governors Grant) Waiver as long as the student could demonstrate the need. Basically, if your parent receives TANF through the state for temporary relief. So, perhaps the minds of our great leaders once they take their thumbs out of their butts could devise a subsidy program for these new students entering for the first time at one of these schools.

What about the Dean of the School. I have thought about this too. We know large campuses have an Assistant Dean. While this Assistant Dean will maintain their presence at their main University they could also take charge as an acting Dean of said school. This would provide a boost on their personal resume to further their own careers. Ok, we have a Dean, but what about a Secretary to handle calls? A few selected students each doing their two hours each day to handle the calls and note taking. Also, Students will be responsible for the cleanliness of school by trash collecting to mopping floors. This will provide a real world exposure to certain job markets while keeping the overhead down.

Moving on to the Teachers, Instructors of the school. I mentioned in my earlier post about this but will go into further depth here. New graduating Professors that have accumulated debt from their education under a special program could work that down if not

naacpms.org

forgiving completely. We know that Teachers that graduate not unlike Doctors have the option to provide their skills in less than desirable areas to forgive their debt and a majority rather face repaying their debt within six months after graduating to live a life of luxury then spent time in those areas to become debt free from Student loan burden. One of those recent programs being TEACHER LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM (TLFP). A program that helps those that elect to become teachers to have their Federal Student loans forgiven provided they teach at qualified low-income schools. This proposal I have would just be an extension of what is already in place just at a new developing school that would be almost virtually free for new students. Those that are working on their Masters, I had one Instructor while attending Butte Community That was doing just that. Instructing us on Physics while she was working towards her Masters Degree. This is a very doable option.

Just some thoughts of how to go about funding a Free two-year College.  There are more items that need to be addressed, but this provides a start in one of the right directions.