Higher Education and Career Training

Dr Lisa Welch, Ph.D.jpg

My Plan

+ Grant Students a Clear Career Path

  • Get the Department of Education to develop programs that allow high school students to choose a career path so we innovate how we prepare our students for the future.
  • Encourage high schools and community colleges to partner with local businesses and corporations. Businesses can then use class work, technical training, on-the-job training and other proven methods to effectively train future employees. This training can be created through tuition assistance and tax incentives for businesses.

+ Restructure the Pell Grant System

  • Expand the Pell Grant system to cover all costs for students with a combined family income under $125,000. 

+ Oversee For-Profit Colleges

  • Ensure for-profit colleges have better oversight and that they reimburse students they’ve left with useless degrees. In turn, veterans that have used GI money for these colleges should see their tuition returned to their GI accounts.

+ End Student Debt

  • All college bound students should be given a course in college financial planning to prevent unnecessary debt.
  • Students that attend college for jobs that are nationally in need of workers should have their tuition reimbursed.
  • Students with student loans should be able to reconsolidate for 0% interest and create favorable repayment terms.

More Background

We must stop telling every student that they must go to college and focus on preparing them for a career instead. A study on high school drop-outs found that they were leaving because they were bored, what they were studying was not relevant, or no one cared if they attended. We can remedy this by focusing on making sure that every high school graduate is prepared for either college or a career that offers a living wage. Focusing on what a person is good at and passionate about ends boredom and makes what they are learning relevant. We expect 18-year-old high school graduates to be able to live on their own and support themselves but we don’t give them the skills to do so. High schools, community colleges, and universities need to work together to prepare students for the future. Acquiring the skills and education to support oneself and one’s family should not leave you with a lifetime of debt.