WHEREAS:

            College tuitions soar each year, advancing far in excess of the inflation rate. The overall inflation rate since 1986 increased 115.06 percent, while during the same time, tuition increased a whopping 498.31 percent; and

WHEREAS:

The average cost per year of attending college in 2010-11 for first time, full-time students living on campus and paying in-state tuition was $20,100 at public 4-year colleges and $39,800 at private nonprofit 4-year institutions; and

WHEREAS:

In addition to tuition, the cost of books and supplies ranged from $800 at private for-profit 4-year institutions to $1,500 at private for-profit 2-year institutions. The cost of room and board ranged from $5,400 for first-time, full-time students living on campus and paying in-state tuition at 2-year public institutions to $9,500 for first-time, full-time students living on campus at private nonprofit 4-year institutions; and

WHEREAS:

Many working families feel the pressure of the rising costs of providing a college education for their children. Some are in dire straits, dipping into their savings, retirement accounts, 401(k) accounts and, in some cases, taking a second mortgage to pay for their children’s education. Some families even experience bankruptcy and home foreclosure; and

WHEREAS:

Economists predict the cost of attending state colleges will soar to $120,000 by 2015. Currently, over $40 billion in student loan debt has forced many former students into lengthy financial stress and in worst scenarios, bankruptcy; and

WHEREAS:

Upon graduation, the majority of students have major debt in the thousands of dollars. In fact, there are 37 million current and former students owing more than $25,000.00 in debt since 2010; and

WHEREAS:

 Going to college and getting an education has long been regarded as a reliable path out of poverty. Children in families in the bottom 20 percent of the income range have a forty-five percent chance of remaining in same income range if they only have a high school education; those who get a college degree only have a sixteen percent chance. Likewise, the average college graduate makes $29,000 more per year than someone with only a high school diploma; and

WHEREAS:

A college education should not be a luxury for the very few, it should be a right for all children of working families.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME will lobby Congress to introduce legislation for ample reforms that will allow for reductions and control of the cost of college education; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME will lobby for legislation that will allow the increase of financial aid programs and distributions of more federal grants and loans; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME will fight to ensure the access of future generations of young women and men to quality education at reasonable costs; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

That AFSCME will lobby Congress to initiate programs that offer graduating students the opportunity to work in their chosen field in public service, thereby offsetting the cost of college.