The New Exchange / Tuition Free Post Secondary Ed.

**Posted by Rongone** 8/31/2016 12:16 pm

And let's not bury any attempt at devising some forward looking proposals as being "too complex" so no action is ever taken. Or dismiss some innovations aimed at reducing college costs, with the ultimate goal of tuition free college education, smeared as nothing more than a semi-socialist country's idea stemming from their welfare state mentality.

It ain't either one of those excuses . . . I mean, it isn't either one of those excuses.

Damn that conservative, church affiliated, private, undergraduate college education I received.

**Posted by Brady Bunch** 9/03/2016 8:43 am

To be clear, are we talking about all post secondary education being free or just for a bachelors degree? Are you talking about making Masters and Doctoral degrees free? Are you limited to one degree or can you just continually take courses in order to obtain additional degrees?

In general, I agree with Lager that education should be decided upon on a state level

**Posted by Just Fred** 9/04/2016 12:52 pm

To be clear, are we talking about all post secondary education being free or just for a bachelors degree? Are you talking about making Masters and Doctoral degrees free?

Since my original premise is that I believe education to be essential to maintaining a democracy with educated voters and education to be an investment in the future, I would say all of them. Remember I qualified that with students who have the ability, desire, and work ethic to continue through the programs. I also stated there needs to be a minimum GPA maintained and Goose added time limitations which I agreed with.

Of course, if one doesn't buy into or accept my premise, then we can't discuss it any further.

**Posted by Brady Bunch** 9/04/2016 3:56 pm

You will have to excuse me, if we are going to talk about an idea such as free post-secondary education, I would like to know some details. How do you quantify ability, desire and work ethic to ensure some can receive and continue to receive free education?

I saw the general idea of setting time limits on this was mentioned, but nothing specific was discussed. What kind of time limits are you considering? Is it time limits for each degree (like 5 or 6 years to get a bachelors degree), lifetime time limits (like 10 years in your life), or some combination?

Would this have to be done on a federal level or could states institute independently?

**Posted by Just Fred** 9/04/2016 4:09 pm

How do you quantify ability, desire and work ethic to ensure some can receive and continue to receive free education?

That is addressed by the requirement to maintain a standardized GPA.

Time limits would have to be discussed. I'm glad you are willing to consider the idea of a tuition-free education beyond high school. I also believe this would have to be done on the federal level, much like we handle national defense and the military on a federal level.

**Posted by Goose** 9/04/2016 9:21 pm

How do you quantify?
The GPA is a fine yardstick.
Let's not reinvent the wheel.

Also, much of the conversation is conceptual.
Let's not bog it down demanding every detail at the outset. Nobody here is putting out details carved in stone. Nor should they at this stage

Last edited by Goose (9/04/2016 9:24 pm)

**Posted by Goose** 9/05/2016 8:19 am

My own bias would be to do it on a federal level, to confine it to undergraduate degrees, and to vigorously vet institutions getting the money.
I would use GPA to assess eligibility. They have to be making grades that show progression towards a degree. As for time limitations, I would not use them. I would approve funding for the number of credts that it takes to get the degree. This would protect the public from being used while meeting the needs of students who might want to attend school part time while working.

**Posted by Just Fred** 9/05/2016 8:55 am

Some good ideas worth considering here on this thread. In the end we should remind ourselves that the purpose of public education instituted by Abe Lincoln, I believe, is to create an educated and enlightened population so very necessary to the health of a democracy. 150 years ago a high school diploma was the ultimate goal for many, but our society and culture has evolved considerably since then, and so has the rest of the world. In some ways we are now having to play 'catch-up'.

Being a 'world leader' isn't just about maintaining a powerful military.

**Posted by Brady Bunch** 9/05/2016 3:06 pm

I see issues with using the GPA as well. How many professors will be pressured by the college administration to issue "B" grades in order to ensure students still receive their funding and don't drop out of college? How many students will take "easier" courses to ensure they can maintain the 3.0 GPA and free tuition?

If we are just going to discuss generalities and not get into the details as to how something like this might or might not work, as I said before I believe education and education funding should be left to individual states.

What might be worth considering on the federal level is some sort of federal student loan forgiveness for students who offer their services to some sort of program after they graduate.

Last edited by Brady Bunch (9/05/2016 3:28 pm)

**Posted by Goose** 9/05/2016 3:09 pm

If you have a problem with GPA, what would you suggest as a measure to replace what colleges currently use?