Paying for college

Broward has $2 million fund.

Broward students who can’t afford college despite receiving grants and scholarships might be able to turn to the county for help.

The county is considering creating a $2 million fund to fill the financial gap for these students — if the students attend Broward College. Commissioners would put up $1 million if local business leaders would match that amount.

“Many of these students can’t afford the gap, so they end up not going to college,” said Commissioner Mark Bogen, who is promoting the program. He said he has spoken to a number of private sector employers who would support a program but first want to see more details.

Gregory Haile, Broward College’s new president, said $2 million would close the gap for up to 2,000 students who don’t have the ability on their own to pay the difference. The money would cover two years at the college, enough to get an associate’s degree or help complete a four-year degree.

The goal aligns with the College Promise Campaign, a national effort to make the first two years of college as universal, free and accessible as a high school education. The non-partisan initiative works to build support for programs that cover student costs.

A May study by the Reserve Bank of Philadelphia found such programs can reduce financial stress and reliance on student loan debt — and can reduce work hours during the school year so there’s more time for studying. But even with a program, many students struggle to balance their class and work schedules and stay on top of their expenses, it said.

Under Bogen’s proposal, if you graduated from a Broward school and received scholarships or grants to attend Broward College — but not enough to cover all your costs — the proposed county fund would make up the difference. The program would rely on student financial aid and income information to make sure the money is going to students who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend the college.

Bogen is suggesting a onetime pilot project for 2019 to evaluate the program and willingness of private companies to support the aid. Commissioners plan to discuss the idea in August.

Other commissioners are supportive of the idea, but say it must be weighed against other pressing needs, such as providing affordable housing and reducing homelessness. They said if the college program started, there would be pressure to keep it going in future years.

Mayor Beam Furr said he might be interested in a variation of the proposal, giving the money to students interested in specific occupations that local businesses need to fill.

He said that kind of program could work well with Broward College’s aviation program.

“You know there’s a shortage of pilots. You know there’s a shortage of mechanics, You know there’s a shortage in aviation parts manufacturing,” Furr said. “This might help the entire industry.”

There would be support for anything that helps create a strong workforce, said Ron Drew, a senior vice president with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, the county’s public-private business development arm. Other target industries for the county include technology, marine industries and life sciences such as health care and pharmaceutical manufacturing, he said.