Obama Calls for 5M More College Grads
Updated at 4:30 pm ET.
President Obama announced a new initiative today asking every American to complete at least one year of higher education or vocational training.
In a speech in Michigan this afternoon, Mr. Obama said that his plan, entitled the "American Graduation Initiative," will help five million more Americans graduate from college within the next decade.
"In the coming years, jobs requiring at least an associate degree are projected to grow twice as fast as jobs requiring no college experience," the president said. "We will not fill those jobs – or keep those jobs on our shores – without the training offered by community colleges."
According to Mr. Obama, more than half of all students who enter community college intending to get an associate degree or transfer to a four year college don't achieve their goals.
Calling community colleges an "undervalued asset," Mr. Obama said that the program will not only promote enrollment, but completion as well.
"Let’s figure out what’s keeping students from crossing that finish line – and then put in place reforms that will remove those barriers," Mr. Obama said. "Because facing these impediments shouldn’t prevent you from reaching your potential."
