This week — after two years in the making — Des Moines, Iowa, joined the growing legion of Cities of Promise. Called the “ISU 4U Promise,” it began when Iowa State University President Steven Leath told elementary school students that he would make sure they had an opportunity to earn a college degree. Continue reading
The Promise movement has hit the big time. President Obama is announcing his college affordability program — dubbed America’s College Promise — today in Tennessee and he expects to address it in his State of the Union speech later this month.
The plan sounds very similar to the programs that have been benefitting students in places like Kalamazoo, Pittsburgh, Denver, New Haven, El Dorado, Buffalo and on and on. Students must reach generous eligibility standards to qualify and maintain a level of success to keep the scholarship. Continue reading
One of the toughest things about a Promise program is that — in the end — the funders and the program administrators have little control on the return on the investment. Promise folks can identify, celebrate, monitor, support, counsel, engage, mentor and advocate for the scholars, but it is the business community that controls the hiring. And without certainty of that, it is hard to fully grasp the ability of a Promise program to assist in the “economic development” mission that most programs champion. Continue reading
Since 1985, the cost of going to college in the U.S. has soared by more than 500 percent and there doesn’t seem to be any relief in sight. That increase? It’s twice the increase of medical cost, three times the increase of gas prices and four times the increase of the cost of shelter. (If you want to see what this has meant at your favorite school, follow this sad link to the Chronicle of Higher Education’s recent tuition study.)
So where can a young person — especially one without a local Promise program — turn for relief? Perhaps Germany? France? Maybe Brazil? Continue reading
Cities Of Promise 