The Washington Post today reports on what it characterizes as a problem, "Only 27 percent of young D.C. residents who entered college in fall of 1998 did so at a District institution, the largest rate of collegiate "out migration" for any U.S. state or territory..." Setting aside the fact that the District of Columbia is neither a state or a territory, what the Post considers a problem is nothing to complain about.
The Post reports that leaders of the District's universities have issues with the D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant program, " ...a popular but costly four-year-old federal initiative that allows city students to attend colleges across the country at in-state or discounted tuition rates." The university leaders are unhappy because while, "... the program offers eligible students $2,500 a year to attend private universities in the District... it provides more incentive for students to go elsewhere."
I am not sure whether it is an April Fool's joke or not, but the Post also laments that, "... the District does not offer students aid to attend UDC or the kinds of financial aid programs found in most other states."
It is astonishing that anyone would complain about a program that allows students in a city notorious for poor education standards, to attend colleges across the country at in-state tuition rates. Who cares whether large numbers of District students attend college in the city. What matters is that they get an education. What matters is whether, having done so, they return to live and work in the District. What should be heralded as a competitive advantage in attracting families to live in the District, becomes for Post and so-called University leaders a pointless exercise in District-centrism.
As to the Post's attempt at April Foolery, the second best thing the District could do for students is not offer financial aid to attend UDC- the best thing it could do would be to shut UDC down altogether.
Posted by publius at April 1, 2004 11:11 PM