People from other countries are often impressed by the access Americans have to higher education. In fact, some countries have begun copying this distinctive feature of our education system. It's ironic, then, that millions of Americans who would benefit from this access have a hard time getting it. I'm talking about adults who are out of work or stuck in low-paying jobs, but who have the desire to go to college and the potential to succeed there.
The federal government could, and should, help open the door for these adults, but its laws and regulations are often designed for "traditional" college students, young people who go right from high school to college and who are still being supported by their parents. Instead of extending a helping had to nontraditional adult students, federal laws and regulations too often throw roadblocks in their path. Here are some examples of people for whom the system is not working:
• The dislocated worker: After ten years on the job, a factory employee with a high school diploma is thrown out of work when his company shuts down. He begins collecting unemployment benefits and looking for a job, but three months later he still has found nothing. An associate degree in medical technology from the local community college could lead to a good job in the city's medical center so he enrolls and is admitted. But as he gets ready to sign up, he finds that he's in danger of losing his unemployment benefits. Regulations say he is supposed to make himself available for work every week -- and getting training that would prepare
him for a job does not count.
• The welfare recipient: A 32-year-old woman with two children, who has alternated between no employment and short-term menial jobs all her life, finally earns a high school diploma. She is turned on to possibilities she has never even thought of, and her teachers, who believe she has great academic potential, encourage her to go on to college. But, thanks to two federal policies, she is not likely to realize her dream.
First, the law says that she can attend college only if the state and her welfare caseworker permit it. Unfortunately, she is unlikely to get that permission: Welfare workers are under tremendous pressure to get people off the rolls as quickly as possible. And college -- although it offers the best possible chance of achieving permanent self-sufficiency -- takes time.
But even if college is approved for this woman and she qualifies for federal student aid, a new barrier appears. The law says that any financial aid not spent directly for tuition, fees and educational expenses is considered personal income and must be counted against a person's eligibility for welfare or food stamps. In other words, if this woman accepts student aid, she may suddenly be considered too "rich" for welfare or food stamps. She may have to choose between going to school and feeding her family.
• The part-time working student: A married woman with three children works full-time and takes three-fourths of a full-time college course load during evenings when her husband is home. She and her husband earn $28,000 a year, and she receives some federal aid to meet her educational expenses. The system seems to be working for her. But what happens if her marriage breaks up? While she looks for a better-paying job, she may have to take a second job so she can continue paying her bills. And she may have to drop her courses down to one-quarter of a full program. Her financial need now is much greater than it was in the first place, but her student aid is likely to be cut off Eligibility for a federal Pell Grant is not open to students attending school less than half-time. Her choices: either drop out of college or take a larger course load than she can handle.
These people are not trying to cheat the system. They are showing a lot of courage and a readiness to work hard and make sacrifices. If people like these can get their college degrees, they and their families will benefit, and so will the American economy. They need help, not hassle, from their government.
In fact, Congress is now poised to take an important step in this direction. House and Senate negotiators have just agreed on a new higher education bill that would, among other things, make sure that people do not risk their welfare and food stamp benefits by attending college. It would also extend Pell Grant eligibility to all part-time students who meet financial need requirements. President Bush has expressed his support for the part-time aid provision, but a veto is still threatened on grounds of cost.
This new student aid legislation should be enacted. But we should go further. We should re-evaluate our unemployment, welfare and food stamp laws to make sure they do not create barriers to getting a college education. And we should explore new ways to give nontraditional students a chance to go to college. For instance, what about tax incentives to companies that help subsidize employees' education? Or federally guaranteed loans to help adults pay their tuition and to replace part of the income they lose when they enroll in school?
It's terrific that our government recognizes its responsibility to help young people get a college education. Now we need to offer the same kind of help to older students who missed their first chance.