Nixon plan targets higher ed.

By Andrew Denney

Published April 29, 2008

Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon unveiled a new higher education affordability plan Monday at Memorial Union that would give some Missouri students a chance to attend the state’s four-year institutions tuition-free.

Speaking in front of a group of MU students, the Democratic candidate for governor announced the Missouri Promise plan, which would give students who have obtained a two-year associate’s degree from a Missouri college a free pass to any of the state’s four-year colleges or universities. The plan would also expand eligibility of the A+ Schools Program to all Missouri high school students.

“I firmly believe that college education is the key to achieving the American dream,” Nixon said. “Now, unfortunately, the dream of college education is moving further away from the reach of Missouri’s families.”

Nixon said under the administration of Gov. Matt Blunt, the state has ranked “dead last” in the nation for increases in state funding to higher education. He also said the obtainment of a four-year degree in Missouri is more expensive than in any other Big 12 state.

“Higher education in Missouri has most certainly been moving backwards for too long,” Nixon said. “Middle class families are getting squeezed. We must start moving forward again.”

The A+ Schools Program allows Missouri high school students to attend two-year community colleges and technical schools in the state tuition-free if they attend schools that participate in the program, maintain a 2.5 grade-point average and good behavior and complete 50 hours of supervised community service.

Under Nixon’s plan, the A+ program would expand to include any Missouri high school student if they meet the minimum criteria for the award, regardless of which school they attend. Students who obtained funds from the A+ scholarship are eligible to attend a four-year institution in the state if they obtained an associates degree from a Missouri community college or technical school, maintained a 3.0 GPA while attending the community college, committed to 50 hours of community service each year they receive scholarship funds and were free of disciplinary problems.

Rep. Clint Zweifel, D-Florissant, spoke at Nixon’s announcement in favor of his plan.

“As we talk about making serious investments in our state’s economy, college affordability and accessibility have to be the centerpiece to making that happen,” Zweifel said.

MU junior Jordan Stein, who attended Stephens College for one semester and subsequently decided to use her A+ eligibility to obtain an associate’s degree from Moberly Area Community College, said if Nixon’s plan would have been available to her, she could have avoided some of her still-mounting college costs.

“The Missouri Promise would have made those problems go away,” Stein said. “I’m really excited about the Missouri Promise and I think it’s going to help a lot of people.”

MU College Democrats President Caitlin Ellis said Nixon has proposed a “great plan.”

“I think it’s going to increase opportunities for students to get higher education, and that is never a bad thing,” Ellis said.

Nixon said the program would cost the state $61 million, and said he expects broad-based, bipartisan support in the Capitol for the measure.

“It’s not about whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican, it’s about right and wrong,” he said. “We’re going to have a different governor with different priorities moving forward for Missouri.”

Nixon said the measure would do more for Missouri students from middle-class families than the $100 million Access Missouri financial assistance program, which Nixon said would send funds to private schools in Missouri instead of public colleges and universities.

“I think the Missouri Promise is much stronger for the middle class,” Nixon said. “It guarantees tuition free for kids that work hard and play by the rules.”