2008 Woodie Awards
Statewide participants lobby in Austin for college funding
Mary Ruth Vincent
Issue date: 3/11/05 Section: Front Page
- Page 1 of 2 next >
Ranger Reporter
The first Texas Community College Day in Austin Feb. 17 brought an overwhelming response from students and faculty statewide.
The Texas Junior College Association reports on its Web site that more than 1,000 participants lobbied for a $359 million increase to help fund community colleges in the state.
TJCA President Cal Pifer said he was happy with the turnout.
"I could not be more pleased with the outcome of the first- ever Texas Community College Student Day," he said. "The students conducted themselves in an extremely professional manner and made an excellent impression on the Legislature.
"I believe the day served as a wake-up call to our state legislators that community college students are involved and that we care deeply about our state's two-year institutions."
Though the turnout and participation was positive, not all information obtained that day was encouraging.
Matt Johnson, Amarillo College Student Government Association president, was in a meeting with state Rep. Tom Craddick, Speaker of the House.
According to Johnson, Craddick told students there is "no funding problem for community colleges in Texas" and that Texas colleges still are the best bargain in America.
Craddick said that since the "state had deregulated tuition, local college boards could/should raise tuition high enough for all students to qualify for grants or scholarships."
"Even with the great turnout," Johnson said, "there were still people who needed to be convinced that there is a problem."
April Sessler, director of student activities, said some community colleges already have begun to cut programs and services and increase tuition and taxes.
"Some students are concerned that AC may be faced with those same types of decisions in the future," Sessler said.
DeAdra Chaparro, an education major, said she does not like the idea of increased tuition and thinks if AC raised tuition, it would affect her future. "As a student and mother, if tuition were raised I might not be able to get my education," Chaparro said. "My education is very important to me. Without it, the job I want will be out of my reach."
The first Texas Community College Day in Austin Feb. 17 brought an overwhelming response from students and faculty statewide.
The Texas Junior College Association reports on its Web site that more than 1,000 participants lobbied for a $359 million increase to help fund community colleges in the state.
TJCA President Cal Pifer said he was happy with the turnout.
"I could not be more pleased with the outcome of the first- ever Texas Community College Student Day," he said. "The students conducted themselves in an extremely professional manner and made an excellent impression on the Legislature.
"I believe the day served as a wake-up call to our state legislators that community college students are involved and that we care deeply about our state's two-year institutions."
Though the turnout and participation was positive, not all information obtained that day was encouraging.
Matt Johnson, Amarillo College Student Government Association president, was in a meeting with state Rep. Tom Craddick, Speaker of the House.
According to Johnson, Craddick told students there is "no funding problem for community colleges in Texas" and that Texas colleges still are the best bargain in America.
Craddick said that since the "state had deregulated tuition, local college boards could/should raise tuition high enough for all students to qualify for grants or scholarships."
"Even with the great turnout," Johnson said, "there were still people who needed to be convinced that there is a problem."
April Sessler, director of student activities, said some community colleges already have begun to cut programs and services and increase tuition and taxes.
"Some students are concerned that AC may be faced with those same types of decisions in the future," Sessler said.
DeAdra Chaparro, an education major, said she does not like the idea of increased tuition and thinks if AC raised tuition, it would affect her future. "As a student and mother, if tuition were raised I might not be able to get my education," Chaparro said. "My education is very important to me. Without it, the job I want will be out of my reach."