Totally Free College Education 2007 - 2017

• How to Help Motivated Students to Succeed
• Free College Tuition: PROGRAMS FOR FREE COLLEGE TUITION
• The Ohio Promise of Education
• UT Guarantee Scholarship 2007 – 2017
• Out-of-State Fee Scholarship
• All Veterans and Their Families are Ohioans 2008 – 2017
• Seniors to Sophomores - A Year of College for Free
• Links

©P.Inglish 2009, 2012.

While debate goes on about the importance and need for a college or university education in America, at least two schools of thought dominate the news. One is that a college education is not a requirement for financial and personal success and the second is that higher education is becoming increasingly vital to the productivity and success of not only the individual worker, but also to his or her nation in the global marketplace.

The possibilities for employment with a high school education or GED are outlined at the Hub Top 10 Jobs for High School Graduates (you will find that there are only 8 fast growing jobs) 

A variety of educators make a compelling case for avoiding pushing youth into college with unsuccessful outcomes, since some do not want that education. Some educational policy groups have suggested a K-13 system to replace the K-12 in order to give young people an extra year to mature, possibly into the idea and desire to succeed in college. Other groups recommend a one- or two-year volunteer or missions service post high school, or even short-term military service for the same purpose..Indeed, during the Recession of 2008 – 2009, greater numbers of workers enlisted into the National Guard and Air National Guard for income, training, and life experience.

At the same time, increasing numbers of youth are dual-enrolling in high school and college and receiving at least a year of college work, cost free and early. One system does not suit all students.

My professional recommendation is that young people be assessed and guided into whichever course is best for each individual. Even the Bible says, “Train up a child in the way he should go”, which means in the original language to train and guide him/her in the individual course that best fits the youth, not specifically a global best moral course, although that may/should be part of it.

One State in the USA began providing free college tuition for 4 years in 2007 and continued to do so during the Recession of 2008 - 2009 with plans to continue to the year 2017.

PROGRAMS FOR FREE COLLEGE TUITION

• Guarantee Scholarship - Totally free tuition for a full 4 years.
• GI Promise - Free tuition; housing, book allowance; family members may use the veteran's benefits of transfered to them. Waiver of out-of-state fees in certani states.
• Seniors to Sophomores - Dual enrollment in which high school students also attend college free-of-charge. In early 2009, 10 US States permit and encourage this free program and 22 of 46 states that allow dual-enrollment require students to pay college tuition.
• Other College Scholarships - Full and partial schlarships. Check the individual school.

In 2007- 2009, the State of Ohio and a select number institutions of higher education in the state began to do the impossible: offer free tuition.

During the summer of 2008, Governor Ted Strickland made a promise to enroll an additional 230,000 NEW students – nearly ¼ million - into Ohio Colleges and Universities by 2017.

This is accomplished in at least two ways.

Of the many scholarships available at the University of Toledo in Lucas County, Ohio, a new offering that begin enrollment in 2007 is the Blue and Gold Scholar Award. This system awards free tuition to graduating high school seniors in a number of markets around Ohio, provided that they meet certain qualifications, In addition, this offer has been extended to Michigan students in nearby Monroe County, without the addition of any out-of-state tuition.

The larger Ohio education initiative is to recruit, maintain, graduate, and place into employment a large number of new students into postsecondary education 2007 -2017. This is planned in order to increase the economic health of the state and the students and families involved.

In 2007, this scholarship was offered by the University of Toledo through the efforts of Governor Ted Strickland (D) Ohio to Ohio's largest markets: Akron, Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton, and Toledo. Dayton is among the Top 10 Worst Cities in US for Jobs in the 2000s, and Cleveland, Akron, Toledo have been depressed, althogh Toledo has continued to find ways to succeed, even gaining funding to reopen its Center of Science and Industry. .

In early 2009, this scholarship was opened to include the full Urban 21 – all the major urban centers in Ohio, including the 6 above and :

• NORTH: Canton, Cleveland Heights, East Cleveland, Elyria, Euclid, Lorain, Youngstown, Warren, Lima
• CENTRAL: Mansfield, Middletown, Springfield, Trotwood-Madison
• SOUTH/SOUTH CENTRAL: Hamilton, South-Western City Schools

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Minimum 3.0 out of 4.0 Grade Point Average at graduation from high school
2. A completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid(FAFSA), and show some level of eligibility for a Pell Grant. The scholarship will cover all tuition costs above these grants.
3. A completed application to UT and the UT Guarantee April 1 yearly.
4. Students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours per year.

There is no limit on how many students in the Urban 21 can apply for these scholarships.

The University of Toledo sponsors high school senior trips to the campus and allows students to apply and be accepted on the spot. Students may also apply to athletic teams school as the university football team and others. The university also assists with helping students find employment, work study and other options for funding room and board.

The University is home to 9 Colleges and 250 different fields of study, including emerging areas of sustainability and alternative energy. Related to this, the nstallation of system of wind turbines between Lima and Toledo atound the Interstate 75 region has begun.

The University of Toledo is also providing up to $12,000 per individual in scholarship money to entering freshmen from other states to offset out-of-state fees. This Tower Scholarship Award is divided into three levels, the scholarship is available as an award of $4,000, $8,000, or $12,000 that depends on GPA of at least 3.0, and performance as shown on high school transcripts. The final level requires an academic competition on campus.

The University has a number of other scholarships available as well.

Governor Strickland promised to American veterans living anywherethat they could move into Ohio and attend the state's largest public colleges tuition free. In addition to the enhanced GI Bill education benefits of 2008, the governor eliminated out-of-state fees ($14,000 per year) for all Veterans, which would not be covered by the GI Bill. This program began in Ohio in early February 2009, just in time for Spring Quarter around the state. Vets will also receive $16,800 yearly for housing and $1,000 for books.

For directions for establishing residency in Ohio see the Hub: How to Establish Residency in Another State.

Governor Strickland and Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut call this program The Ohio GI Promise, with at least 46,800 Ohioans and unnumbered others in the country and even overseas that were deployed between the 9/11 attacks in 2001 and April 30, 2007.

State officials want graduates to stay in Ohio and afford the state a larger number of skilled workers. They will also repopulate state markets depleted by the exodus of young adult professionals to other states and by military deployments. Official also forecast that graduates will increase the forces of the Ohio National Guard.

The spouses and children of veterans who enroll in Ohio schools can also attend college in Ohio at in-state rates. Veterans can even transfer their benefits to relatives and provide free tuition. Ohio is the first state to extend in-state benefits to veterans from other parts of the country, but other states are planning to follow, especially under the National Stimulus Plan of 2009.

Many Veterans are using their expertise in Logistics learned in Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere after 9/11 and combining it with new college degrees to enter a updated Logistics Industry in America.

The Governor and a specially formed Council want 13 colleges and universities and 23 community and technical colleges in Ohio to particularly welcome Ohio and other Veterans and their families.

LINK: The Ohio GI Promise.

See the Hub: Dual Enrollment for Higher Education for such opportunities around the USA and specifically, the University System of Ohio for the Seniors to Sophomores free first-year college dual-enrollment program. Check the State Board of Education in other US States for similar programs.