The current skills gap in the United States job market dictates that more individuals should pursue higher education. Moreover, there are high unemployment rates for individuals with only high school degrees in comparison with individuals with two-year associate degrees from community college (Goldrick-Rab and Kelly 54). In the 2016 elections, free college policies were a common theme, especially among the Democrats. However, Hillary Clinton did not win the election, but the idea is still appealing to many policymakers because of the rising costs of higher education, the massive existing and growing student debt, and the inequality present in access to higher education. In various states, lawmakers have enacted policies that ensure a free college program such as New York’s Excelsior scholarship for students from families with incomes lower than $125,000 per annum (Delisle and Bernasconi 1). The immediate costs of free community college are high, but there are potential long-range benefits which are crucial to the growth of the economy and for the United States to remain competitive in a fast-paced technological world.
Background Information
The success of the United States economy depends on the number of individuals with higher education and the skills of the workforce. Advocates of free community college highlight other countries who have resolved to provide free college for their population and the benefits they accrue. Further, according to research, there has been a shift in job creation since the 1900s towards the employment of workers with post-high school attainment (Carnevale, Jayasundera, and Gulish 16). Moreover, since the Great Recession, the new jobs that have emerged have gone to individuals who have pursued higher education, and the positions whose minimum requirement is a high school degree have not grown at all (Carnevale, Jayasundera, and Gulish 15). Workers without post-secondary education are disadvantaged in the current US job market, and the human cost on communities and families is significant.
The level of student debt serves as a warning for the United States commitment to education because it is an indicator of the abandonment of education which is the foundation of upward economic mobility. The government has made numerous efforts in trying to provide funds for individuals who wish to pursue higher education by taking away the burden of tuition. Opportunities in education have previously been a lynchpin of the American society. In the 20th
century, the need for skilled workers led to the expansion of education opportunities in limbo with the growing industrial age. In 1965, the higher education act was enacted to encourage more students to enroll in college (Capt 20). However, in the 21st
century, the millennials have had to finance their education. The economy of the United States is in dire need of educated and skilled workers for it become economically successful and as such, it is essential to change current policy before the country eventually loses its competitive edge. The United States has to expand the concept of free primary and secondary education to higher education to ensure that the labor force is competing in a 21st century economy. Some states have taken up the initiative and made community college free.
Education is a crucial human right to any democracy and for any economy to function. Higher education has continued to become pricy over the years to the extent which most of the population cannot afford it. It is also an investment for the future, but most individuals do not have the capital to invest in higher education. It is the responsibility of the federal government to provide access to higher education for all since it is essential in the pursuit of any form of participation whether political or economic. Over the years, tuition fee has also continued to increase in institutions of higher learning. Even worse, the tuition fee has continued to grow substantially in comparison with family income. Most families have been left with the burden of keeping students in school partly because the government does not contribute to education as it did previously. The funds from states to education has decreased in recent decades (Ehrenberg). Additionally, most budget cuts in most states target public education. The problem began when the Bush administration allocated low funds for social programs and shifted responsibility to the states who had made cuts in education to make up for the underfunded social plans. The result is an increase in tuition fees since state governments are not funding education (Smith and Szymanski 700).
Access
Free community college would ensure that more individuals can access higher education. However, with the increasing price of tuition, the number of individuals who can attend college is limited, and the gap between the poor and the rich has widened. Additionally, high tuition fees lead to a large number of students abandoning college before completion due to tuition hikes. Moreover, a large number of high school graduates do not apply for college because of the high tuition fees. The current financial aid programs are inadequate in overcoming the barriers to higher education because they are only accessible to a few individuals and because the assistance provided is insufficient. The various changes in policy have made financial aid inaccessible for students from low-income backgrounds (McDonough 52). Additionally, such students have to look for jobs and work for long hours to supplement their tuition and for them to afford to stay in college.
The right skills are mandatory for the United States to compete on a global level. With the advancement of technology and globalization, there is a need for skilled workers, and lower skill jobs are being squeezed out of the US economy. The community college offers an associate degree that is occupation oriented. Such degrees will allow the next generation to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge that most firms require to remaine competitive on a global stage. Simultaneously, there will be a reduction of unemployment because there will be skilled American workers to fill up positions which are often outsourced and off-shored. It is about time that the United States placed more emphasis on vocational training because a highly trained workforce means low levels of unemployment.
Opposing Argument
A student may end up choosing a course that does not satisfy them or lower than their abilities because of the promise of high wages in the future (Capt 18). Additionally, students may enroll for alternative classes because they are frre in community college as opposed to their preferred choice and they may end up taking fewer risks in life because they did not pursue their dream. Moreover, because of the fact that college is free students will not take their education seriously and they will not be prepared for the job market. Furthermore, with an increase in the number of degrees, degrees will lose value. As such, the United States would be having a large number of unemployed graduates because of being underqualified.
A community college offers vocational training which in most thriving economies is the driving force. However, the US fails to prioritize vocational training provided in community colleges. As an example, in Switzerland, the government advocates for vocational training and very few youths are unemployed, and it also boasts of a highly trained workforce (Stalder and Nägele 21). In other countries that have incorporated vocational education as part of their mainstream education, the results are the same. Technical training is essential because it helps students who have come from high school to make a transition from secondary school to the workforce. It involves the job training and classroom studies. When the students complete their training, they are well equipped to join the job market which in turn reduces unemployment as well as underemployment. Additionally, students can proceed to pursue even higher education and earnings.
Diversity
When the government offers free community college, it allows for diversity, and it helps in repairing historic inequalities. The are other significant problems apart from people being too underprivileged to go to college which include generations of inequity as a result of discrimination. If previous generations were able to attend college, then the chances are likely that current ages will attend college. However, most Americans do not go to college because previous generations did not go to college. As such, having free community college would assist in addressing the inequity. Additionally, free community college would ensure that students of all economic backgrounds attended. Income is tied to other factors of demography such as race, religion, and family history. Thus, free education will give educational opportunities to students of all backgrounds.
A diverse student population has a positive impact on all students. Students from minority groups who attend a college that is free of discrimination and underrepresentation have a greater sense of belonging than their counterparts. Further, students from majority groups show appreciation for the college’s effort in promoting diversity. Years spent in college for most students are formative years where students explore new ideas and relationships. They become more aware of social problems, and they can easily relate to people from different races. The United States boasts of the most diverse population, and it is crucial that the students develop skills that help them connect with other races and groups.
College accords students with the capability to acquire independent expertise and knowledge. In an inclusive environment, students will be more willing to accept intellectual challenges than in an environment that does not recognize diversity. When students interact with diverse peers, they acquire critical thinking skills. They are more confident about their creativity, understand their field of study and show more understanding of science and technology (Hu and Kuh 330). Additionally, students are more satisfied with a more diverse environment because they can readily perceive the atmosphere of the campus and they are satisfied with the overall college experience.
Opposing Viewpoint
The opposing view is that the money to ensure free community college must originate from somewhere. A free community college policy would dig at taxes, but the question would be whose taxes would meet a free education. However, the pros outdo the cons because with free community college more, students will be able to reach graduation. The high rate of tuition fees leads students from minorities to quit school before graduation. Instead of taking a four-year degree programme the students can enroll in free community college, and after graduating and getting a job, they can proceed to acquire graduate and baccalaureate degrees. If community college were open to all, there would be no reason to drop out or take a break for financial reasons. Free community college would allow students to pursue their passions and abilities. The choices for most students are constrained because of the current cost of continuing higher education. Hence, the graduation rates may drop and the students who graduate may not be ready.
Stronger Workforce
Free community college would lead to a stronger workforce. It is the responsibility of the state and local government to fund community college. By supporting free community college, there will be an increased number of workers locally who will fill in positions that require specific technical skills. Students who go through community college can provide middle skills that are necessary for jobs that require minimal post-secondary education or the tasks that need on the job training. In the United States, about 26 percent of jobs require workers with a community college qualification while others need more than six months on the job training (Bessen). Additionally, the vocational programs in community colleges provide work-study components that accord student with job experience. The current state of the US labor force offers fewer workers with middle skills which creates a perception of a skills gap (Kochan, Finegold and Osterman 87).
A community college offers a two-year associate degree unlike universities which provide four-year degree courses but all students look for jobs in the same workforce, and the pay is relatively the same. Some community college graduates will earn more than their counterparts who pursued a four-year degree programme while some even acquire entry jobs that pay much more than the other graduates (Jepsen, Troske and Coomes 100). Moreover, graduates who sought associate degrees from a community college in technical courses earn more than their peers who did non-occupational associate degrees (Jepsen, Troske and Coomes 100). After finishing community college associates go-ahead to acquire baccalaureate and graduate degrees and thus they are upwardly mobile. They, therefore, proceed to earn more and gain even more experience. Most baccalaureate degree holders in the United States passed through community college before going on to acquire more lucrative jobs (Torche 781).
Opposing Viewpoint
The United States must proceed past the stigma associated with vocational training. Most people associate individuals with a community college as receiving low pay and they mostly do menial jobs which is a false notion. Times have changed, and some careers do not require a four-year education for an individual to advance in their careers such as in the fields of food production and sales and marketing (Torche 800).
Conclusion
Free community college would be expensive initially, but the extended benefits are crucial to growing the American economy. The cost of education has risen over the years since the Bush government transferred the responsibility of social programs to state governments. The state governments were forced to make budget cuts on education funding which resulted in pricy tuition and an increase in student debt. With the high tuition fees, most students forego or drop out of college due to financial reasons. Therefore, it is essential to consider the probability of free college which enables student after high school to acquire vocational skills which are crucial to the United States labor market. The high cost of higher education discourages individuals from poor backgrounds from pursuing higher education. Free community college would ensure that individuals from all backgrounds had the same opportunity which would lead to a diverse population. Furthermore, once students acquire middle skills, they can continue their education further by pursuing a graduate or baccalaureate degree.
Works Cited
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McDonough, Terry. "Closing the Skills Gap: Key Learnings for Employers and Job Seekers." Employment Relations Today43.4 (2017): 49-54.
Smith, Preston H., and Sharon Szymanski. "Why Political Scientists Should Support Free Public Higher Education." PS: Political Science and Politics 36.4 (2003): 699-703.
Torche, Florencia. "Is a college degree still the great equalizer? Intergenerational mobility across levels of schooling in the United States." American Journal of Sociology 117.3 (2011): 763-807.
