College costs: Wayne Community College addresses issue many face

It might seem like a tough decision -- and one that is antithetical to the purpose of a college.

After all, the last thing the Wayne Community College board of trustees wants to do is to put up barriers for students trying to further their education.

But the decision to step back from a student loan program that might actually end up putting students in financial stress is a wise one.

The concern is that some of the students who are building up loan debt will not be able to find the kind of jobs that will allow them to repay the money they borrowed.

If the school's alumni produce a high default number, that could cause problems for Wayne Community College -- and hence, the other students who are seeking an education there.

So, the college has decided to try to come up with another way to help students finance their education, but to pull away from a program that is very well-intentioned, but quite possibly flawed.

You might think that this is a problem that is associated only with a community college.

But there is a bigger picture.

College educations are prohibitively expensive -- even, sometimes, at state schools. Some people can get scholarships to finance their education -- or at least part of it. Others find themselves entering a less-than-healthy work force with mountains of debt, so they are behind before they even start.

There are many who think the nation's colleges are bloated -- and that there are places where less money could be spent and more opportunities opened up for students to find a way to affordably continue their education.

And there might be something to that.

But there is another aspect here, too. And that is making sure we have an economy that is vibrant, growing and that offers opportunities for new graduates.

We should also understand that sometimes attending college requires sacrifice, either a more realistic examination of what a student can afford, or some time in the work force to earn a bit of the money that is necessary to attend school.

And there should be more opportunities for parents and students to preplan a way to manage their college expenses -- and more rewards if they do so.

Unlike public education, college or other post-secondary instruction is not a right. Getting there often requires sacrifice on the part of the student and his or her family.

But we should, as a nation, consider ways to not only make such a dream possible, but ways to also make it a goal worth aspiring to achieve.

We don't need more handouts. We need more people to understand that something worth having is worth working hard to achieve -- and then support those who really are putting in the effort to get there. We also should hold those we help accountable to performance standards once they are in school.

These are the kind of people we need more of in the modern workplace, and it is in our best interest to make sure they have the chance to get the education they need to get there.

Published in Editorials on May 1, 2014 10:57 AM