Obama to tackle higher education

Last Tuesday marked the end of over a year of strenuous campaigning for Barack Obama in his successful bid for the presidency of the United States. During this long campaign, he made many promises, some of which affect Boston College students more than others. Higher education reform, though, is one issue that is bound to affect BC students directly.

In his campaign, Obama said that he would give a $4,000 grant to any American who wanted to attend a two- or four-year college, provided that they complete 100 hours of service. According to Obama's Web site, "This universal and fully refundable credit will ensure that the first $4,000 of a college education is completely free for most Americans, and will cover two-thirds the cost of tuition at the average public college or university and make community college tuition completely free for most students." He also promised to "streamline the financial-aid process."

Obama will most likely have to deal with more than just these two aspects of higher education over the next four years, and these other decisions in regard to higher education could have far-reaching effects. Ted Youn, professor in Lynch School of Education, said, "He will also probably continue research in areas like global warming and stem cell research. These commitments are more symbolic, since they don't involve a high cost and are a relatively short-term commitment."

Youn added that Obama would have to address the issue of higher education, even with the limited resources of a weak economy. He said, "Obama has to do something. Higher education is such an important investment. He has no choice."

Walter Haney, professor of the educational research, measurement, and development department of the Lynch School of Education, said, "It [higher education policy] should clearly be a very high priority because a well-educated workforce is the key to not just our economic future, but our social future."

Haney said, "The Bush administration has not done much at all as far as promoting higher education. The key issue is enhancing access to higher education. The price of higher education has increased much faster than the costs of other services for years." So if it is clear that something needs to be done, some wonder how much of an effect a new president can have on this policy. "I think that strong leadership from the executive could dramatically reform federal support for grants and loans for students of limited means," Haney said. Haney said that the combination of a Democratic president and Democrat control in the Congress will make it easier for Obama to pass legislation pertaining to his higher education policies.

Youn and Haney both said that there are good policies currently in place that Obama should keep in regard to higher education, and there are some policies that need to be changed. Haney said, "Conservatives have promoted universal social service." Youn said, "He will probably continue research at universities for [several different] issues. He will continue research for HIV and AIDS, as well as cancer."

There are also numerous new policies that Haney and Youn said Obama will most likely enact. While there are a number of directions that Obama will probably go in regard to research in higher education, the main issue that he will tackle will be the funding. "Clearly, he will push for increasing grants," Youn said.

Ben Lawson, A&S '11, also said that he believes that something should be done about the cost of tuition. "I think there should be more grants for the underprivileged," he said. "There should also be a mandate increasing the number of in-state students at state schools. Many schools are bringing in more out-of-state students because the higher tuition rate that they charge brings in more money, but this isn't fair to the in-state students. This problem should be corrected."

Youn said that the major issue is the funding of higher education and how to deal with higher education as it relates to the current economic crisis. "Big fallouts are going to take place among state governments. They will move away from supporting higher education because states are having enormous budget problems [due to the economic crisis]. Higher education will suffer because of this, so the Fed will have to do something to help the states," Youn said.

Another way that the economic problems could affect higher education is the new role that it could create for community colleges. "Jobs are moving away from the U.S. to other countries. Community colleges may take a major role in retraining industrial workers," he said. "Obama is going to have to do something about the increasing unemployment. The most obvious thing is to do job retraining in community colleges. This is not very costly." Youn said that community colleges can adapt to retrain industrial workers who have lost their jobs to overseas manufacturers, creating a workforce more suited to the global economy.