CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The chancellor of the West Virginia Community and Technical College System is happy the state Legislature passed the last-dollar-in community college bill during this year’s legislative session.
Sarah Tucker, speaking on MetroNews “Talkline,” thanked lawmakers for their work in getting the legislation passed last week.
“I couldn’t be more excited about the passage of Senate Bill 1,” she said.
The legislation, expected to receive Gov. Jim Justice’s signature, establishes advanced education programs between public schools and post-secondary institutions for obtaining associate degrees and advanced job certificates, in addition to funds state grants students can receive to supplement other assistance for enrolling in classes.
Tucker said the purpose of the grant program is to provide funding for people interested in higher education opportunities but are not able to afford classes.
“Your typical community and technical college student does not come from an affluent family,” she said. “Very few have families that have incomes over $100,000. That’s two teacher salaries.”
“We know that the number one reason people are not going to college in West Virginia is the feat in the cost of attendance,” she added.
Tucker said for some students, enrolling in a two-year or technical program is a better route because of employment needs.
“Our programming is very different than the four-year institutions. We offer specific technical training opportunities,” she said.
“I think that knowing that they will they will be able to afford to go to college will cause a lot of people who had no intention of going to college in the first place to go back into college and get the type of training they need to get a good paying job,” Tucker added.
The program will begin in the fall semester.