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Helping BCC helps us all
New Bedford Standard-Times editorial
We can't wait to see the expanded downtown New Bedford
campus of Bristol Community College.
With the capacity that $10 million can buy, the school
predicts it could double its enrollment, providing
another 1,500 seats for SouthCoast students to pursue
higher education. Though the funding is not yet certain
— Sen. Mark C.W. Montigny estimated that up to $10
million could be approved by the Legislature — it has
broad support among the SouthCoast delegation.
That's great news not only for the students, but for
employers and the economic health of the region as a
whole. In short, helping BCC helps the people of
SouthCoast. They need the school as an entry point for
any number of educational opportunities, including
traditional two-year degrees, transfer of credits to
UMass, literacy programs and non-credit job training.
In an op-ed in The Standard-Times last summer, BCC
President John J. Sbrega cited a UCLA analysis, based on
data from more than 8 million students, that concluded
that U.S. college freshmen are wealthier than at any
point in 35 years. Sadly, he said, the data reflect
lower-income students being excluded from higher
education by rising costs.
Gov. Deval Patrick's proposal to make community college
free by 2015 — the ambitious plan Dr. Sbrega endorsed —
may not fly, but clearly the demand for low-cost higher
education is such that BCC must make expansion a
priority.
Greater access to higher education should translate into
better jobs and income for graduates. The presence of
educated workers will help draw businesses to locate
here. And bringing scores of new people to downtown New
Bedford will be another big piece of the city's rebirth.
We urge legislators who support the expansion funding,
including Sen. Montigny and Reps. Antonio F.D. Cabral,
John F. Quinn, Robert M. Koczera and Stephen R. Canessa,
to keep working to make it a reality.
May 08, 2008 |
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