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From Scottsbluff to Omaha. From McCook and North Platte to Norfolk. From Beatrice, Lincoln and Milford to Columbus, Grand Island and Hastings, Nebraskans looking to improve themselves are served well by the fastest growing sector of higher education... community colleges.
I thought about this recently as I sat in the Qwest Center-Omaha looking out on a sea of eager younger and older faces waiting to graduate from Metropolitan Community College, one of six community colleges in Nebraska. As I prepared to deliver the commencement address to this group I remember thinking that these are the productive citizens and leaders of tomorrow and we have a community college to thank for providing them with training and knowledge to serve our local communities and help drive our economy.
Congressional Help for Community Colleges
I have been a big fan of the community college system since I was Governor and signed legislation into law to assist Nebraska's community colleges in raising sufficient funds to support their student population. Now as your United States Senator I will continue my support of community colleges as Co-Chair of the Congressional Community College Caucus whose mission it is to raise awareness and advance policy for community colleges across the nation.
Impressive Statistics
More than 1,200 community colleges nationwide educate 11.6 million students each year, representing almost half of all U.S. undergraduates. Community colleges educate more than 50 percent of new nurses and close to 80 percent of the law enforcement officers, emergency medical technicians and firefighters serving communities across America. Graduating students also benefit from strengthened community colleges, earning an estimated $400,000 more in their lifetimes than high school graduates.
In Nebraska
According to the Community College Association:
- Students enjoy an attractive 21% annual return on their investment of time and money—for every $1 the student invests in a college education, he or she will receive a cumulative $5.74 in higher discounted future earnings over the next 35 years.
- The State of Nebraska benefits from improved health and reduced welfare, unemployment, and crime, saving the public some $19.1 million per year.
Because of all our community colleges do, I am pleased that Congress established a Congressional Community College Caucus and I am looking forward to working with other members of this bi-partisan coalition including my fellow Co-Chair, Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina, and Senators Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina, Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, Thad Cochran of Mississippi and Richard Durbin of Illinois.
It is our goal to help community colleges continue to enrich the lives of workers, drive economic growth and promote higher learning among students of all ages.
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