Policy Resolution EDU-20-53

WHEREAS, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) have identified 1,132 community colleges in the United States and 980 are public colleges;

WHEREAS, nearly half of all undergraduates in the United States just over 13 million (25% of all graduates) enroll in community colleges and 5.7 of them in public community colleges;

WHEREAS, 6,000 students from 10  community colleges in California, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming, responding to a recent North Carolina State University Research team identified the top two reasons they find it difficult to complete community college tied at 34% each, having to work and not being able to afford the expense;

WHEREAS, in 1965 the average public college tuition was $256 annually and today the average annual public community college tuition has risen to $3,347;

WHEREAS, individuals earning at least a 2-year community college degree will earn nearly $400,000 more over their career than a person with a high school diploma;

WHEREAS, 44 million people in this nation are currently in $1.48 trillion  debt and attending a community college could cut down on cost and indebtedness even for those choosing to transfer credits to a 4-year institution;

WHEREAS, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics released its publication citing some of the highest paying jobs in the United States will increase over the decade and will require at least a 2-year college degree;

WHEREAS, economies once built on low skilled industries, specifically in the South, must now compete globally for jobs that require training beyond high school;

WHEREAS, in 1944 US Congress passed the G.I. Bill which provided free higher education to millions of World War II veterans and was the most successful legislation in modern history laying the groundwork for the post war economic boom and growth of the middle class;

WHEREAS, the state of California did not begin to charge for a college education until the 1980s; and

WHEREAS, twenty states offer various forms of free community college , Arkansas, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky Maryland, Minnesota, Memphis, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, West Virginia and Washington.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) support and request that all municipalities and states governments provide community college education at no cost;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL urges the Congress to pass legislation requiring all states to make community college free and to provide the necessary supportive funding to assure its reality;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL recognizes the increased burden this will place on our educational system and further urges that two years at a public University or College, should be subsidized at a similar rate to a local community college;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NBCSL also recognizes the effect that this could have on Historically Black Colleges and Universities as a disproportionate share of the students struggle economically, as such to preserve the heritage and history of these culturally significant educational institutions, we must also increase funding to these institutions to support their scholarship funds to maintain necessary enrollment; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the Unites States, members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, other federal and state government officials, and agencies as appropriate.

• SPONSOR: Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter (SC)
  
• Committee of Jurisdiction: Education Policy Committee
  
• Certified by Committee Co-Chairs: Representative Rufus Straughter (MS) and Representative Sheryl Williams-Stapleton (NM)
  
• Ratified in Plenary Session: Ratification Date is December 6, 2019
  
• Ratification is certified by: Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter (SC), President