The Interfolio Blog

In an announcement today at a community college in Michigan, President Obama revealed his plan to make $12 billion in federal funding available to community colleges nationwide. 

The plan aims to enable community colleges to make much-needed renovations, enhance curricula and increase the number of graduates by 5 million by 2020. This includes helping the almost 50 percent of students who begin education at a community college and fail to graduate.

This funding is also directly aimed at helping community colleges foster better relationships with K-12 systems and 4-year colleges, as well form partnerships with local businesses and train students for job opportunities.

In addition to announcing bonds and other funds to help pay for community college fundraising and facility upgrades, Obama will also allocate $500 million to the specific growth of online programs.

“It’s time to reform our community colleges so that they provide Americans of all ages a chance to learn the skills and knowledge necessary to compete for the jobs of the future,” Obama wrote in the July 12 edition of the Washington Post.