海角社区

AUGUSTA, ME 鈥� Maine lawmakers have good reasons to support extending Maine鈥檚 Free College program to future high school graduates, Maine Community College System (MCCS) President David Daigler told Maine legislators on Tuesday.

鈥淭he Free College promise we have collectively made is changing lives,鈥� he told a joint convention of the 132^nd Maine Legislature. 鈥�(It) is widening the pipeline for more skilled graduates entering the workforce and increasing transfers to our four-year college partners.鈥�

The leaders of the state鈥檚 three public higher education institutions (MCCS, the University of Maine System, and Maine Maritime Academy) all addressed the lawmakers on Tuesday. It was the first in-person 鈥淪tate of Higher Education鈥� event at the statehouse since 2019, before the pandemic.

The Maine Free College program covers 100% of tuition and fees for qualifying high school graduates from the graduating classes of 2020-2025. Students must live in Maine while enrolled, pursue a degree or certificate, complete the FAFSA, and accept all state and federal aid before the Free College funds are applied. It is a last-dollar scholarship.

State funding to continue the program beyond this year鈥檚 high school graduates is in the governor鈥檚 proposed biennial budget. MCCS has also requested an increase to its base funding to compensate employees and funding to meet financial obligations under the state鈥檚 new paid medical leave law.

鈥淔ree College is an investment in our future,鈥� Daigler said. 鈥淎nd for those of you in the legislature, there are real financial returns on your investment. With more college graduates, incomes rise, and balancing future budgets will be just a bit easier.鈥�

Daigler also highlighted the system鈥檚 success in diversifying revenue to support expanded short-term workforce training programs; the doubling of the system鈥檚 nursing programs; new transfer agreements; increased transfer rates; and expanded construction and manufacturing programs.

Daigler recognized several community college graduates in the audience, including:

• Marilou Ranta, a 2016 Eastern Maine Community College (EMCC) culinary program graduate who won a coveted James Beard award for outstanding hospitality at her restaurant, The Quarry, in Monson.
• Marilou鈥檚 son, Gunnar, a 2021 EMCC graduate who is a firefighter at Bangor International Airport.
• Kristen Crowley, who enrolled while still incarcerated through a limited 鈥淪econd Chance鈥� Pell program, eventually graduating with a 4.0 GPA and being named the 海角社区 Student of the Year.

Maine鈥檚 seven community colleges are the smart and affordable choice for lifelong learning in Maine, with the lowest tuition and fees in New England. The colleges serve more than 33,000 people a year, through two-year associate degree and one-year certificate programs, short-term workforce training, early college programs, advanced certificates, and other learning opportunities.