Increasing College Access And Affordability, Financial Transparency In Higher Ed, Admissions Policy Changes, And Tax Credits For Qualified Apprenticeship Training Programs Among Bills To Get Out Of Committee
by Jamil Ragland CTNewsJunkie
HARTFORD, CT – College access and the ability to afford it were on the agenda Thursday for the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee.
Several of the bills voted out of committee were aimed at expanding access to college and other educational resources for marginalized and underserved communities.
HB 5239, which would increase funding for collegiate awareness and preparation programs, found unanimous support during a roll call vote. These programs help introduce college to underserved communities by facilitating visits, and helping students with everything from applications to finding scholarships. The bill would also allow nonprofit organizations that are not colleges to compete for funding for the first time.
Multiple legislators lauded the program for helping students with the nuts and bolts of college access.
“I like the concept of the bill,” said Rep. Steve Weir, R-Andover. “Being from eastern Connecticut, there are disadvantaged people out there as well, people who have never attended college before. This could be a good opportunity for eastern Connecticut as well, as the small rural towns tend to get forgotten when we’re talking about the disadvantaged and underserved.”
There was some disagreement, though, as legislators grappled with how to help students better afford the spiraling cost of college. SB 304 would allow students aged 17 to apply and sign for loans provided by the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Load Authority, known as CHESLA loans. Some felt that 17 was too young to agree to the burden of a student loan.
“I’m torn on this one,” said Rep. Brian Lanoue, R-Griswold. “I certainly want to make sure that anyone who wants to go to college has the ability, and that those students who are 17 that haven’t turned 18 have the access to funds. But when you’re in the high school environment, you may think you want to go in a certain direction. You take out the loan for that, you go to college and you realize it’s not for you. Student loans are a forever debt, and it’s a very aggressive form of debt. I would like to see more safeguards.”
Rep. Francis Cooley, R-Plainville, agreed with Lanoue’s sentiment.
“I think you’re dealing with massive debt that can be accumulated through student loans,” Cooley said. “I haven’t seen anything in the language of the bill that would make a 17-year-old have a parent co-sign. I’m not breaking down the barrier of contract law so that 17-year-olds can go into debt. I think this bill is well intentioned, but as the old saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and I see this as a road going down a bad place.”
Despite disagreements, the committee passed eight of the 14 bills by unanimous vote on the consent calendar.