Dr. Jill Biden isn’t hesitating to use her visibility to support community colleges nationwide.  Last week she was in Florida with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, where they met with students at the largest community college in the nation – Miami-Dade College.

A faculty member at Northern Virginia Community College, Dr. Biden is quoted by BUSINESS WIRE:

“As a community college professor, I see first hand the significant and critical role that community colleges play in educating students and preparing them for a fiercely competitive workforce,” Biden said. “Community colleges will no doubt play an increasingly important role in restoring the economy over the coming years by training Americans for jobs of the future in affordable and accessible ways.”

U.S. Secretary of Education said the stimulus package will hep save education jobs and continue to make higher education affordable:

Of the $30.8 billion in the stimulus package for higher education, $17 billion will be used to close the shortfall in the Pell Grant program and boost grant amounts by $500 to $5,350 in the first year. The increase in Pell Grant aid will benefit low-income students who are disproportionately represented at community colleges. And students who participate in the Federal Work Study program will receive larger awards.

It’s encouraging that the administration is vocally supporting community colleges. Of course Dr. Biden has lots of experience in our field, working 15 years as a community college English faculty member in Delaware before joining the staff at NOVA.

Posted by Susan Hayden