The state community college system has made impressive strides forward with its strategic plan, and the institutions deserve more funds to support that growth.
But when legislators approve a two-year state budget, they should not disadvantage the UNC system in favor of community colleges, the cheaper option.
A proposal in the N.C. House of Representatives’ budget would create an N.C. Guaranteed Admission Program, directing some UNC-system applicants to community college for two years in return for admission as juniors to their choice of system school.
The legislature would transfer $4.5 million from the UNC system to community colleges to fund the initiative in 2014-15.
This is an effective way to lower the cost of of higher education, but House members’ decision to transfer, not award, money is troubling, and it sets a potential standard for state appropriations to become a competition.
The N.C. GAP proposal is vague, too. It’s unclear how students would be chosen and how enrollment would change in both systems.
The General Assembly should vote against the N.C. GAP in its current, ambiguous form. When one public education sector needs additional finances, other sectors should not be gutted in the process.
