CU Leader Opposes Biden Plan for Free Community College; Looks to Private Sector for Solutions

During a radio appearance Saturday, CU Regent Heidi Ganahl (R) opposed Joe Biden’s proposal to expand access to higher education for millions of Americans by offering tuition-free community college.

While Ganahl expressed support for junior and community colleges, and vocational training programs — many of which are publicly funded at the state level — she suggested that private industry should have more influence in designing and delivering educational programs to create “the workforce of the future.”

Dismissing Biden’s idea, announced by Biden during his state of the union address last week, Ganahl on KNUS’ Jimmy Sengenberger Show said, “I just don’t think they’ve thought it through,” but the ideas she favored in her interview are subject to that same criticism.

She summarized her opposition to Biden’s plan, saying:

“So, you know, I don’t think that any of the solutions I’m seeing on the table right now from our current government or leadership are the right ones from my perspective as a regent at CU. I think it’s more important to work with industry, partner with them to create the workforce of the future and figure out exactly what students need to get great jobs when they graduate and to make a good salary and make a good living and do something that they’re passionate about. […] So I think we’re leaving a lot on the table if we just focus on providing more money from the government to fund degrees that are not tied to what our workforce needs and what our kids need to get great jobs.” [Listen below.]