Edwards Pitches Plan For Tuition-Free Year

Employed students eligible for funds

By Kathryn Roebuck

Staff Writer

Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., outlined last week a higher education plan that would make college more affordable for deserving students, but its cost could keep it from becoming reality.

Edwards, often rumored to be a 2004 presidential candidate, unveiled his plan Thursday in a speech at the University of Maryland-College Park.

The program, called College for Everyone, would offer free tuition for first-year students at all community colleges and public universities in the nation.

Students who obtain the free tuition would have to pass college-preparatory courses in high school and work at least 10 hours a week at a part-time job or a community service program during their first year of college.

"If we're going to make this deal with students, we're going to have to ask something in return," Edwards said in his speech.

But he also said that he thinks the additional work will have a positive impact on students.

"The research shows that part-time work on campus helps students perform better in college," Edwards stated. "For myself, there was no way I was going to waste my education when I was paying for it by doing things like unloading trucks and working on road crews."

UNC-system Board of Governors Chairman Brad Wilson said he supports Edwards' plan, which he said is a creative method of ensuring equal access to college. "Any approach that would advance qualified high school students to apply to a college or university is what we're aiming for," he said. "It's a worthy investment."

But some officials questioned the program's feasibility because of its estimated $3 billion annual cost. "North Carolina would love to go to a program like this, but our problem is money," said BOG Vice Chairwoman Teena Little. "We raised tuition for students, so a program like this is not a possibility."

Some states have programs in place resembling Edwards' plan but fund them through other sources, Little said. "Georgia uses lottery money to pay for the HOPE scholarship, a scholarship similar to the plans suggested by Edwards."

Edwards' speech also outlined the creation of a four-year scholarship for students who commit to five years of work in a field addressing the United States' homeland security needs after college.

Other sections of Edwards' proposal include expanded training opportunities for students interested in vocational jobs.

"All of our children deserve the same chance to make the most of their gifts, to rise as high and as far as their talents and work will take them," Edwards said. "That's the great promise of America. Our job is to make sure we keep it."

The State & National Editor can be reached at stntdesk@unc.edu.