GRCC board votes to freeze tuition for 2021-22 academic year
Updated Mar 15, 2021;
Posted Mar 15, 2021
Grand Rapids Community College is freezing its tuition rates for the 2021-22 academic year. (MLive File Photo)
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GRAND RAPIDS, MI Grand Rapids Community College announced Monday it will not be hiking tuition rates for the 2021-22 academic year.
The tuition freeze, approved Monday, March 15 through a unanimous vote by the board of trustees, reflects the college’s focus to keep higher education within reach at a time when many in the community are experiencing financial challenges as a result of the pandemic, a news release from GRCC states.
Sentinel Staff
GRAND RAPIDS Just six weeks after the program’s launch, more than 800 people have been approved to attend Grand Rapids Community through the Michigan Reconnect program.
The program provides scholarships to attend community college or trade schools for Michiganders ages 25 and older who have a high school diploma, but have not completed a college degree.
So far there have been 47,000 applicants statewide. That includes 752 residents in Ottawa County, 252 in Allegan County and more than 2,500 Kent County.
GRCC President Bill Pink joined state and West Michigan legislative, education and economic development leaders participating in a virtual event Monday to share how residents ages 25 and older without a degree can take advantage of the program.
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Take Advantage of Free Tuition At Community Colleges
Higher education is important and the pandemic has indirectly made it possible for many Michiganders to get free tuition at community colleges across Michigan.
There are a variety of educational programs that are offered that will allow a variety of essential workers as well as the general public to get back to school.
According to WOOD, one program that is being offered is for essential workers to get their GED or go to community college for free is called Futures for Fontliners. West Michigan community colleges have seen their highest application rates in their history during the pandemic.
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Students walk on campus at the University of South Carolina, which will open fully in person this fall.
Good news about the COVID-19 vaccine couldn’t have come at a better time for college admissions officers. Dozens of colleges and universities have recently announced that they’ll be open in person this fall after waiting weeks or months to go public with fall plans.
Colleges fall announcements started a few weeks ago as vaccination rates began to pick up, but student inboxes and news sites have been flooded with fall reopening news this month, due in part to the ongoing admissions season. Experts call March and April prime yield season, during which colleges and universities work tirelessly to build a strong incoming class. After a year of exhausting transitions, students are looking for certainty and normalcy, and promising those things could give institutions a leg up as admitted students decide where to enroll.