Largo, Md. (Feb. 4, 2020) – A dozen Prince George’s Community College students traveled to Annapolis today to attend Community College Student Advocacy Day 2020. The students joined hundreds of other students from around the state to lobby lawmakers for increased budget support for Maryland’s 16 community colleges.
Gathering in the Miller Senate Office Building, the students met with senators and delegates, and then listened to community college presidents and students speak about the importance of affordable and accessible higher education.
Despite an improving economy, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has continued to fund community colleges at less than the long-standing Sen. John A. Cade Funding Formula requires. This year, Prince George’s Community College received a $2.3 million reduction in state aid. In the budget and legislation proposed by Gov. Larry Hogan in early January for the coming year, community colleges would get just half of the increase in state funding support anticipated under the Cade Formula.
Students urged legislators to reject the Governor’s Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (BRFA) provisions that reduce community college funding, along with new language that eliminates the Cade Funding Formula and replaces it with a new formula based on available funds.
With cost still a significant barrier to completing a college education, students voiced their support for a bill sponsored by Sen. Paul Pinsky (D-Prince George’s). The bill proposes adjustments to the Maryland Community College Promise program that includes streamlining the process, increasing student eligibility, and moving funding awards to May so that students have a better financial grasp when they make enrollment decisions.
Students also urged lawmakers to support a bill sponsored by Del. Jared Solomon (D-Montgomery). The bill proposes transfer initiatives that will help prevent community college students from losing academic credits when transferring to a four-year college. An estimated 22 to 43 percent of community college credits earned are currently lost in that process.
The students also advocated for more capital budget support for construction and maintenance projects on their campuses. Capital construction needs at Prince George’s Community College include renovations of the Largo Student Center and Marlboro Hall.
Students participating in Community College Advocacy Day 2020 also voiced their support for more disability services funding and Open Educational Resources (OER), which help alleviate the high cost of textbooks. Books currently account for approximately a third of the annual cost of attending a community college.
About Prince George’s Community College
Named a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance designated by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security (2015-2020), Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) provides high-quality education and training for the progressive and career-oriented residents of Prince George’s County. From new high school graduates and career seekers to more seasoned professionals and senior citizens looking to enhance their skillsets, PGCC is comprised of students who represent a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and goals. Serving nearly 40,000 individuals annually, the College is the first choice for higher education for residents of Prince George’s County. Collaborative partnerships, responsive degree and training programs, and a commitment to student success enable PGCC to address diverse education and workforce development demands. For more information, visit the College website at www.pgcc.edu. Prince George’s Community College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104; (267-284-5000); www.msche.org. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.
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