Obama pitches free community college plan in Macomb

Giving students two years of free community college is simply an extension of America’s historical emphasis on the importance of education, President Barack Obama told a crowd of about 1,000 at Macomb Community College.

Referencing previous federal efforts to increase educational opportunities for Americans, including the GI Bill, Obama tried to reinvigorate his plan to give at least two years of free community college to students who maintain a high grade point average.

Accompanied by Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden and herself a community college professor, Obama announced an independent College Promise Advisory Board, led by Biden, that will highlight existing programs providing free community college. The board will try to recruit more states and communities to do likewise and will also enlist celebrities in a public awareness campaign to press for tuition-free community college.

He also announced $175 million in Department of Labor grants across the country to help with apprenticeships, with awards going to 46 organizations, institutions and businesses pledging to train workers in health care, information technology, advanced manufacturing and more. Detroit’s Focus: HOPE is among those getting the grants.

But the spotlight today was on community colleges.

“I’ve been focused on community colleges,” Obama said in his speech. “They are at the heart of the American dream.

“For every young person willing to work hard, I want community college to be as free and universal as high school. It's easy for politicians to say young people are the future. But you've got to walk the walk.

“No kid should be priced out of a college education. No hardworking young person should be denied just because of where they started.

“You don't have to necessarily go to a four-year degree to get a good job, but you need to have some specialized skills.”

Obama unveiled his proposal as part of his State of Union speech. It would give students two free years but would require them to maintain a 2.5 GPA.

That could cause issues, an April Free Press story found. An average of 31% of currently enrolled students getting federal Pell Grants — given to low-income students — at several Michigan community colleges wouldn't be eligible for the money.

National data show a similar picture. According to data compiled by the National Center for Education Statistics, 24.4% of community college students with a Pell Grant had GPAs under 2.5 in 2011-12, the latest year for which data are available.

That means a significant number of students who, based on financial needs, would benefit the most from the plan would be ineligible for it, although they would still qualify for Pell Grants.

The average net price for a full-time Michigan community college student is around $6,000 a year. A full Pell Grant typically covers only about 60% of the cost of attending community college, national data show.

Obama's plan could cost the federal government an estimated $70 billion annually. Under the plan, the federal government would cover three-quarters of the program's cost, with the states picking up the remaining amount.

Gov. Rick Snyder hasn't committed to spending Michigan funds on the program.

Before his speech Wednesday, Obama toured the Michigan Technical Education Center, run by Macomb Community College.

"All this equipment is almost identical to what is being used by the auto companies," Obama told the news pool. "The auto companies helped design and set up the equipment. This 10-week program is going to allow Natalie to operate and maintain this equipment.

"At the end of the 10 weeks, there will be a job fair and she is likely to be hired. Macomb is a good example of where, if community college programs are structured around the needs of employers, not only can we make the courses shorter, we can also make sure graduates have jobs."

The program Obama toured is funded by a federal grant. Biden also was on the tour.

Natalie Heacock, 20, of Clinton Township is about halfway through the 10-week training program and got a chance to talk with the president.

Obama then met Philip Gates, 25, of Richmond, who used his yellow robot to write USA on a white sketch pad on an easel.

"Fantastic," Obama said.

Gates is also in the National Guard and Obama thanked him for his service

The president arrived in Michigan around 2 p.m.

Coming off Air Force One with Obama at Selfridge Air National Guard base were U.S. Reps. Sander Levin and Brenda Lawrence, along with Biden.

A little girl holding a container of food caught the president's eye as he greeted folks gathered at the air base.

"You got your Cheerios?" he asked, drawing laughs from the crowd gathered on the tarmac.

Contact David Jesse: 313-222-8851 or djesse@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @reporterdavidj