Baltimore County, MD Hello Baltimore County, 1 Sep 2016

Previous Meeting Next Meeting

⏯

youtube image

►

From YouTube: Cut College Debt with CCBC

Description

Community College of Baltimore County President Dr. Sandra Kurtinitis offers great strategies for affordable college for everyone.

A

Welcome to hello, baltimore county., I'm ellen kobler.

A

today, we're going to share one of the best kept secrets of success:.

A

How to get the earnings benefits of a college degree.

A

While avoiding crippling student debt., we are joined by dr. sandra kurtinitis,, president of the community college of baltimore county..

A

Thank you so much for joining us.. Thank you for having me. is the term "crippling college debt" too strong a way to describe it? nope.. It is actually the best way to describe it.

B

Because nationally the amount of college debt that students owe.

B

Actually enters the trillions., it's a huge problem nationally, and it's something that we think.

B

The community college can bring some help to.

A

Okay, and talk to us about the benefit of getting a degree.

B

Well,, if you get an associate's degree,.

B

You will earn just about a half a million dollars more.

B

In your career lifetime than you will without one.

B

If you get a bachelor's degree beyond that,, you will earn about a million dollars more than if you do not have one.

B

So, investing in the degree and actually incurring some debt.

B

Is not a bad thing because of the outcome., but there are ways to manage that debt, so it doesn't become.

B

Something that you must pay for 30 years in your work, life.

B

And mitigate actually the benefits of the degree..

B

What kind of dollars are we talking? About?.

A

What's the average cost, looking like nowadays?

A

well,, what we like to say at ccbc --.

B

And we use this as a marketing strategy, but it actually makes good sense:.

B

"Come to us for two years and pay $3,500 a year.

B

Then go any place. You like and spend $35,000, $45,000, $55,000, $65,000 a year.".

B

That is not an exaggeration.

A

So what I'm kind of hearing is that, just like anything else,.

A

That they would-- that people would do, they need to have a plan that takes into account the finances and how to move forward.

A

What about scholarships?.

B

Well,, there are many scholarships that help students.

B

But not everybody can get a scholarship.

B

And one of the things that we now have done at ccbc.

B

Is we have, by investing some college funds.

B

As well as our very generous foundation, funds,.

B

We now have about $2 million in scholarships to offer students.

B

And you know,, some of those scholarships sit.

B

And are not taken advantage of., so we're very strong on urging students to get on the scholarship--.

B

Our scholarship website, other websites.

B

And really explore out there scholarships that could help mitigate college debt.

A

Well, that's a really good tip -- that there's some college money sitting there..

A

I personally went to community college for my first year.

A

And had a fantastic experience., I got some of the best teaching that I had received anywhere.

A

In my college, career. what, in your opinion, makes a community college such a good start.

A

For those who either want to earn their associate's degree, a certificate,.

A

Or go onto a bachelor's and beyond?.

B

I think what you just said is sort of an excellent beginning.

B

If you think about the mission of a community college,.

B

We hire our faculty to be teachers.

B

So, out of the gate,, these folks are expert in their field,.

B

In their discipline,, and they are really encouraged to be teachers first.

B

And maybe researchers or authors second.

B

so,, that's a first big advantage., but there's an extraordinary advantage in the state of maryland.

B

That, I would imagine many families are not aware. Of,.

B

And that is the maryland transfer compact --.

B

Assures a student who finishes an associate degree with a 2.5 gpa.

B

Automatic admission into the state's four-year public institutions.

B

That's pretty huge., the university of maryland system is very competitive, nowadays. absolutely., but in addition to that, we have the same kind of agreements.

B

With our private college partners.

B

is that right? yes., so almost any community college student in maryland, --.

B

And certainly at ccbc -- who meets the gpa criteria.

B

Will be accepted into one the four-year institutions.

B

But here's the other thing:, if you have an associate's degree,.

B

You are then eligible for the state's transfer scholarships.

B

And even us --, if you have 40 credits,.

B

We'll give you completion scholarships so that you can actually get that associate's degree before you transfer.

B

Those who do that will graduate from the four-year institutions.

B

With a percentage as high or better than students who enter as native students.,.

A

Wow!, that's really interesting..

A

What other suggestions do you have for students, --.

A

Either current students or graduates -- to try to whittle down some of their student debt?.

B

Well,, when I think about families that have student debt.

B

That exceeds the mortgages on their houses,.

B

I think that one of the best ways that families can mitigate this.

B

Is to have their juniors and seniors in high school begin taking college credits.

B

We have a very robust program with baltimore county public schools.

B

Whereby students can take advantage of a program now.

B

That we call college 4, free. every junior and senior in a baltimore county high school.

B

With a 2.5 or better gpa is eligible to take up to four college courses, --.

B

With the tuition paid.

A

Let's say that one more time: college for free.

B

Every junior and senior-- yes, indeed. yes, indeed., that's amazing.. We have our own version of college 4 free.. So we now have students graduating from high school.

B

With transcripts, with 15 credits, 30 credits.

B

And if you think about that in terms of cost prevention,.

B

You want to send your student to a place where it's going to cost you $60,000 a year, you've now gotten $30,000 worth for free.

B

wow!, all right,, let's think outside of the box.

A

It's not just kids coming out of high school going to community college.

A

First of all,: what about --? You said that there's something that people who are already enrolled in a four-year university,.

A

They can come back and take some classes towards their degree at community college.

B

They surely can., they surely can. and we actually try to encourage the students who come home from college,.

B

Come to us over winter break, come to us over summer.

B

Our tuition rate is somewhere in the $130, a credit tuition and fees.

B

You take a three-credit class or a four-credit class with us,.

B

You've already saved a lot of money.

B

and you've advanced your ability to move more quickly.

B

Through your bachelor's level, continuum.

B

okay,, and what about adults who want to return to college?.

A

And many of them do.

B

Our average age is 27,, so we have many of them..

B

Is that right? so,, in addition to our own opportunity, grant program,.

B

There are, of course, the pell grant program and the state's even part-time and full-time scholarship, assistance.

B

Our financial aid people are very, very much geared.

B

Towards helping our students, -- young and old --.

B

Maximize the dollars that are available to them.

B

and actually,, we encourage everybody to fill out a fafsa,.

B

Even though it's difficult to do., it is your pathway to any scholarship, state,.

B

Federal, private grant and aid program.

A

So I'm hearing, basically you say that pursuing a college education.

A

Really shouldn't be out of anybody's reach, financially.

A

That's what we believe. yeah.

B

And whether you stop at an associate's degree or go on to get a bachelor's,, master's, or phd,, there is no reason why college should cost as much.

B

As many families are paying, if you actually include the two-year college and the associate's degree in that equation.

B

all right. community college of baltimore county --.

A

Sounds like a great value.

B

A

And if families are interested,, can they come and talk to somebody.

A

On one of your campuses and get some personal help on how to proceed?.

B

Oh, indeed., all they need to do is contact us and through the financial aid office or through the admissions office,.

B

There are many people who are skilled in helping and listening well.

B

To what that student needs and then helping devise an approach to meeting it.

A

What a great resource.! Thank you very much. thank you., and thank you for watching hello, baltimore county..

A

We encourage you to check out ccbc online and to connect with baltimore county government on facebook and twitter.

A

We'll see you next time. (, ♪♪♪ ).