HOUSTON – Free community college education is the topic on this week's "Houston Newsmakers!"
President Obama recently called for a plan that would allow all students who work for it to be able to earn two years of free community college education.
This week on Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall, the heads of three Houston area community colleges discuss the likelihood of that happening.
Stephen C. Head, Ph.D. is the Chancellor of the Lone Star College System and said it's good to have the conversation about such a possibility because statistics indicate community colleges are good for the community.
"Seventy-eight percent of those receiving Bachelor's degrees have earned credit from a community college," he said. "You have a better chance of graduating if you start at a community college."
Brenda Hellyer, Ed.D. is Chancellor of San Jacinto Community College and agrees.
"Yearly costs at community college are about a third of the cost of a four-year university," she said.
Zachary Hodges, Ed.D. is the Acting Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Houston Community College.
"If we're going to have a conversation about a sustainable middle class, you can't leave out this conversation about the community college," Hodges said.
All have much more to add in this week's "Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall."
----
The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday is being celebrated across the United States in a variety of ways. In Houston for the 27th year the North Houston Frontiers Club is celebrating with the MLK Memorial Breakfast.
Donnell Cooper is the President of the North Houston Frontiers and said 100 percent of money raised goes toward scholarships for Harris County students of all ethnicities.
Also this week, a profile of Jason Moran, the graduate of the Houston School for the Performance and Visual Arts who was recently nominated for best musical score for the movie "Selma."
----
"Houston Newsmakers" airs Sunday morning at 10 a.m. right after "Meet the Press."
More Information:
- Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., Chancellor, Lone Star College System, 832-813-6500.
- Brenda Hellyer, Ed.D., Chancellor, San Jacinto College, 281-998-6150.
- Zachary Hodges, Ed.D., Acting Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs, Houston Community College, 713-718-2000.
- Donnell Cooper, President, North Houston Frontiers Club, 713-331-0440.