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SPEAKOUT: Scholarship initiative good for all

By Bruce D. Benson

Published May 28, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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There's no doubt that a college education provides a leg up in life for individuals and substantial benefits for society.

A study by the nonprofit College Board showed that in addition to the intellectual benefits, those with a bachelor's degree earn more than a $1 million more over their wage-earning life than high school graduates. It also details that college graduates pay more in taxes, contribute more to their communities, participate in civic life at greater rates, and are healthier individuals.

Additionally, Colorado's colleges and universities help drive a vibrant state economy. The University of Colorado alone has an annual economic impact on our state of nearly $5 billion.

A college education is a private investment for individuals and a public good for society, and both reap the benefits.

With the benefits of post-secondary education so clear, why does Colorado do such a poor job sending its kids to college?

You may have heard of the so-called Colorado paradox. When I co-chaired former Gov. Bill Owens' Blue Ribbon Panel on Higher Education, we found Colorado consistently ranks among the top five most educated states in the country in percentage of population with at least a bachelor's degree. Yet we're also in the bottom half of states in sending our high school graduates on to higher education. Our top-five ranking is due in part to a high number of educated people who move to our state. It is more difficult to explain our bottom-half ranking.

Many factors account for the poor participation in post-secondary education, including low high school graduation rates, challenges with advising and a belief by some students and families that college is out of reach. Perhaps one of the most significant reasons is cost. Although tuition at most Colorado institutions is still below the national average of their peers, costs that outpace inflation - coupled with state support per resident student that is near the bottom of the national average - make it difficult for many families to afford college.

That equation is why I support Gov. Bill Ritter's proposed Colorado Promise Scholarship, slated for the November ballot. I applaud the governor's strong stand for our state's students. It would increase need-based scholarship funding to those who most need help and would also offset tuition costs.

We simply have to do a better job of making college a reality for Colorado students. The idea is still in the formative stages, and Colorado voters will have the final say, but the Colorado Promise Scholarship could potentially make $120 million available annually for scholarships.

While more need-based aid is imperative, we must not forget two important factors: merit-based aid and middle-income families. Those families are frequently squeezed in the financial aid mix. They earn too much to qualify for need-based aid, but not enough to comfortably afford tuition without debt. As we consider the Colorado Promise Scholarship, we should be mindful of this fact and make provisions for those families. One way to do so is to carefully determine the criteria for what constitutes "need." Another is to consider using a portion of revenue for merit-based aid.

Merit aid reflects a long-standing American value of rewarding those who strive to achieve and aspire to excellence. Meritorious students can inspire both their classmates and faculty, as well as raise the academic bar across the institution and ensure the best and brightest continue to focus on research endeavors crucial to a university and to society.

Regardless of the mix of need and merit, the Colorado Promise Scholarship could help make headway on the critical issue of getting more Colorado students to college. Early estimates are that some 60 percent of those students would be eligible. That's a great start.

Perhaps most important is that the Colorado Promise Scholarships would help communicate that college is within reach for our state's students. And that would be an investment that will pay significant dividends, for our students, our state and society.

Bruce D. Benson is president of the University of Colorado.

Comments

  • May 28, 2008

    5:20 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    roger44 writes:

    I don't think Colorado itself is to blame, it's the ethnic makeup of the students in the state. Statistics show some ethnic groups drop out at a high rate. And, we are putting too much emphasis on teaching English to students that don't speak the language, when traditionally it has been up to the Parents to teach them. In the past, the first thing on the agenda for immigrants was to learn the language, and that now has fallen by the wayside. When there are people who have been in this country for 10 years and don't speak English, it's their failure, not the state or federal Governments.

  • May 28, 2008

    7:02 a.m.

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    vudumom writes:

    Colorado is not to blame. Taxpayers should not be spending more money that will only be wasted on any education programs until Colorado does something drastic to it's school system as a whole. There was a story in the paper about another college fund set up. The gist of the story was they were having problems giving away the money because people didn't want to fill the forms out or didn't know about it. This is pure BS. Anyone going or wanting to go to college would be told about this money that is available.
    Why does Colorado feel it has to give money to anyone not willing to even put the time in to fill out a form? What happened to making someone work a little for what they want? When did we stop teaching this very basic but very important trait in our kids growing up? Now a days it's a give me,I'm entitled, you owe me attitude, we are teaching our children. Furthermore, If DPS has a 45% dropout rate, how is it helpful or even going to make a difference to kids who do not value education if you wave a college scholarship in front of them? They don't drop out because they don't have college money. They dropout because they don't have the drive in them to work at something.
    We can't save everyone from themselves or their parents. It is not possible.
    How about giving the money to students who are determined to graduate without a carrot and a stick held out in front of them while they are starving from lack of anyone teaching them accomplishment and pride.

  • May 28, 2008

    9:04 a.m.

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    BikerChick writes:

    ..
    Bruce Benson is right-on here, as is Gov. Ritter.

    There is one caution to consider.

    Because it is unlawful for a foreign national to come to the USA lacking official permission, and it is unlawful for any employer to entice-hire-employ a foreign national who is here unlawfully, and it is unlawful to aid-and-abet a foreign national who is here unlawfully (Title 8, USC)... the proposal MUST specifically prohibit giving any scholarship assist to foreign nationals here unlawfully. Why is that ?

    Many in the higher-education industry advocate for helping the poor-pitiful illegal immigrants with YOUR tax-money. Most of the electorate is angry and willing to vote against unlawful proposals. There is also common-sense. Why should Colorado taxpayers fund college educations for folks who cannot legally be employed in Colorado ?

    For those who tend toward progressive sympathy for the bright foreign-national kids, please remember... their home-nations have great universities where the students are always welcome.

    At the risk of repeating, we cannot and must not provide subsidized higher-education to those foreign-nationals who come here lacking the required visa and lawful permissions. Anarchy is not a clever approach.
    ..

  • May 28, 2008

    9:29 a.m.

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    vudumom writes:

    Well said, BikerChick.

  • May 28, 2008

    10:17 a.m.

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    Madre2 writes:

    Biker Chick: FYI. The Colorado Legislature passed a law in 2006 that makes it illegal to give illegal immigrants state or federal financial aid and/or scholarships. Perhaps you ought to bone up on state laws before using this topic as an excuse to further your anti-immigrant viewpoints?

    Roger 44: Please stay on topic. Again, this column has nothing to do with illegal immigration. It has to do with educating Colorado kids.

    Vudumon: I agree wholeheartedly. We should give the money to deserving students, regardless of their ethnic background.

  • May 28, 2008

    4:26 p.m.

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    BikerChick writes:

    ..
    Madre2 has revealed self as a progressive, open-borders advocating sniper socialist smart alec.

    In a Law-and-Order Republic, LEGAL immigrants are an asset, but ILLEGAL aliens are not. That language is taken from Title 8 of the United States Code of Laws.

    So simple. While churches and the like are welcome to assist folks in their nations, when people break our laws to come here illegally, the costs to provide "fringe-benefits" are not only high, but not an appropriate use of scarce resources.

    I was there for the debate in the State Capital in 2006.
    Where were you ?

    Governor Ritter has chosen not to enforce the immigration-related laws passed in 2006 in Colorado, bowing to a suggestion from Bishop Chaput, the local leader of his church. John Hickenlooper has a similar bent, for different reasons. That is malfeasance and derelection of duty.

    Madre2 will never relent, continuing to yell 'racist' while dreaming of a multicultural utopia... where illegal aliens willfully refuse to comply with our laws and assimilate... and get away with it. Very helpful and constructive ? NOT.

    Fortunately, Madre2, your sour-grapes vocal minority will not win that 'right' for the 'immigrants.' The Colorado Attorney General will enforce Colorado and Federal laws and prevent illegal aliens from accessing the taxpayer subsidized higher-education. The reason to add the language in the ballot issue is to put progressives on notice.
    ..

  • May 29, 2008

    10:34 a.m.

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    gary writes:

    Let me see...if we spend millions...of working taxpayers money... on stupid kids that are passed through high school..even though they never learned anything. Then pay for a college education for them. All will be well and fine in Colorado.

    Just look at that college drop out Bill Gates and thousands of others. Too bad they did not make it in the real world!!

    Look, if a person is smart enough..they will either find a way to go to college or...heavens forbid ... not go to college and turn out to do just fine and maybe a millionaire or billionaire.

    Nuff Said!

  • May 29, 2008

    10:59 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Madre2 writes:

    BikerChick: You don't know squat about me. You wish you did. Your response shows you for the nutjob that you are.