Tuition will be free for both credit and non-credit students at College of Marin for spring term, the college announced Friday.
The tuition waiver is open to students who register through the new Clear Path program, the college said. The waiver does not include parking permit fees, textbook costs or other charges, such as for rush transcript orders.
Registration opens Friday for the term that starts Jan. 22 for weekend classes and Jan. 24 for weekdays.
“We understand that many members of our campus community may be experiencing additional financial burden because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said COM president David Wain Coon. “We want tuition to be one less thing they have to worry about for the spring semester.”
The board of trustees has also approved a plan to eliminate previous student debt from March 2020 until November 2021 to bring back students who left COM with debt.
“Facilitating the removal of barriers to educational opportunities is part of our work as trustees,” board president Wanden Treanor said.
“We’re hoping that clearing students’ outstanding debt and paying tuition for spring will relieve some financial pressure and encourage those who were unable to continue their education to re-enroll.”
The tuition waivers and debt cancellations come as California community colleges are seeing continued declining enrollment as a result of the pandemic. The Los Angeles Times reported Friday that community college enrollment dropped by 10.6% this year as more students opt to work instead of go to school because of pandemic-caused financial pressures.
“We are always monitoring enrollment and, like almost all colleges and universities, our enrollment took a hit during the pandemic,” COM spokeswoman Nicole Cruz said in an email Friday. “What we are most concerned about is supporting student success and the measures we can take to address their needs.”
Enrollment at COM was down 8.4% in the spring, and dipped 6% this fall, compared to a year earlier, according to Cruz.
Cruz said both the tuition waivers and the student debt cancellations are being financed by COM’s institutional portion of federal COVID-19 relief funding.
“The cost of the debt cancellation is $520,000,” Cruz said in an email. “The overall estimate for tuition and fees is budgeted at $1.1 million.”
She said she expected other community colleges were working on similar plans.
“I’m aware of similar programs at Modesto Junior College and the Peralta District,” she said. “A certain portion of the funds must be spent on emergency financial aid grants to students, so I imagine there are projects in the works at other institutions as well.”
Under the Clear Path program, College of Marin will pay for up to 18 units of classes for spring term. More information is at es.marin.edu/clear-path-program.
In order to register for spring term, College of Marin is requiring all students, employee, and volunteers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. All students will be required to submit proof of vaccination as a condition of enrollment for spring semester.
College officials are encouraging current and prospective students to submit their proof of vaccination or exemption request as soon as possible.
Source: www.mercurynews.com