Advocate The Independent Student Voice of Mt. Hood Community College
Free tuition for 2 years of college? by Katelyn Hilsenbeck
mended reimbursement for students only after they complete a first term or year of college. Also, four-year universities worry about the potential drain of their future freshman and sophomore students. The idea of free tuition might quickly gain traction, however. Shawn Flack, a Mt. Hood student, said, “I think it would boost people going to college and lower the drop
The Advocate How does free tuition for a year or two of community college sound? A legislative bill proposing a massive tuition break for Oregon high school graduates hit the Senate Education Committee floor, and won quick approval, on Wednesday. Senate Bill 1524 would have the state of Oregon pay two years of community college tuition for each of 32,000 newly minted Oregon high school grades each year. A 5-0 favorable committee vote this week, during a abbreviated session of the Legislature this month, may lead to serious consideration of the proposal in Salem when lawmakers meet full-time in 2015. MHCC President Debbie Derr said on Wednesday, “It makes a lot of sense. It would be wonderful because I think education is a right, not a privilege. “But is the state going to be able to fund it? That’s the question all the (community college) presidents are asking,” she said. Estimated cost to the state is put at $100 million to $200 million. Supporters say the price tag of the measure outweighs the devastating burden of mounting college debt placed on many students and the cost of an under-educated workforce in Oregon. Meantime, concerns have been raised about eligibility to receive the free tuition. Gov. John Kitzhaber recommended creating benchmarks, such as high grades before rewarding the tuition. A state senator recom-
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www.advocate-online.net February 7, 2014
Volume 49 Issue 16
Winter weather freezes campuses on Thursday
Graphic by Heather Golan - The Advocate
out rate of people dropping out before high school.” Michelle Gregory, MHCC community engagement director, said, “the college is still learning as much about this proposal as everyone else… it’s pretty fresh. And certainly intriguing!” She said that if the funding was generated through the state and given to students, there would be no financial detriment to Mt. Hood.
“If the funding were allocated to the community colleges for distribution to qualifying students, we would be facing some administrative costs to run a program,” she said. Still, “(if) the program… was popular enough we might see a rise in enrollment, which would be great news.” Gregory cautioned, however, that the details are what would make or break the college’s position on this bill.
Returning face on campus
Sigala returns to Mt. Hood after 4 years away by Katelyn Hilsenbeck The Advocate Al Sigala is back on campus, and he aims to make the college shine. Sigala returned to Mt. Hood on Jan. 2 as the executive director of the MHCC Foundation. He previously worked at Mt. Hood for 11 years as the director of media and public relations, until his position was eliminated in 2009. He then served as vice president of community relations at Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest. “It’s great to have that opportunity to come back here, because I believe in the mission,” Sigala said of his return to Mt. Hood, engineered by first-year President Debbie Derr, a former colleague of his at the Gresham campus. “I’m a product of the mission,
and I know the president really well and believe in her and her strategies,” Sigala said. He said his goal at MHCC is to improve involvement both internally, through staff and students, and externally, with community members, in the foundation. The foundation funds student scholarships and helps supply new classroom equipment. To do so, he is proposing events such as a bowling fundraiser where any individual could join a team and also try to raise $100 apiece with the help of software to reach out to friends. Sigala predicted the event will not only be a “great morale builder” but also a “great community party.” He said despite the need for new money, his job is more about bringing people together.
Photos by Greg Leonov - The Advocate
MHCC closed at noon Thursday due to inclement weather. Above: The MHCC pond was frozen over. Below: Snow covered the Main Mall and tabletops.
Volleyball coach will be missed by colleagues, players by Aaron Marshall The Advocate
Chelsie Speer, highly successful volleyball head coach at Mt. Hood, has taken the same position at Walla Walla Community College.
Al Sigala Sigala
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Look for a profile on the new Humanities dean next week
The announcement last week was big news in the athletic community here as the Saints have shined brightly under her reign, often dominating their league competitors. In five years as head coach, Speer’s overall record at MHCC was 175-43, which included a 2011 NWAACC championship, five straight South region titles and four South region coachof-the-year awards. The Saints twice finished second in the NWAACC playoffs, and in fourth place once. Mt. Hood will conduct a national search to replace Speer. She assumes a full-time faculty position at Walla Walla, an opportunity too good to pass up despite mixed emotions about Speer departing.
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