Episode 18: Prof. Doug Webber on NY’s “Excelsior” Scholarship

http://www.crushpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Doug-Webber.mp3

New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo recently championed and passed the nation’s first plan to offer free college tuition to state residents attending state public colleges called “The Excelsior Scholarship.” Free always sounds good, but does it make for good policy? Professor Doug Webber, a labor economist at Temple University who has contributed to fivethirtyeight.com, Fortune, and has testified before congress on matters of higher education, helps us understand what about this plan is good, and what about this plan might actually be really bad policy. We use NY Times columnist David Brooks’ scathing 8-point critique (“The Cuomo College Fiasco” NYT 4/14/17) as a frame for this discussion. Here are some links for further reading on the subject:

By my guest, Prof. Doug Webber:

“This U.S. State’s Free College Plan Isn’t All it’s Cracked Up to Be.” (Fortune)

“To Ease the Student Debt Crisis, Hold Colleges Accountable” (fivethirtyeight.com)

“Fancy Dorms Aren’t the Main Reason Tuition is Skyrocketing” fivethirtyeight.com)

More coverage on the Excelsior Scholarship:

“Mr. Cuomo’s Free* College Plan” (NY Times)

“Cuomo Adopts Middle Class Mantra” (NY Times)

“Free College, but With Caveats” (NY Times)

“Why Governor Cuomo’s Free Tuition Plan Won’t Help NY’s State of Mind.” (Heschinger Report)

“6 Reasons You May Not Graduate on Time (and What to Do About It)” (NY Times)

BONUS: Check out Governor Cuomo changing one lucky voter’s tire!

Gov Cuomo helping a stranded driver along the Sprain Parkway pic.twitter.com/XgKy3aMscq

— Melissa DeRosa (@melissadderosa) February 9, 2017

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