Raimondo’s CCRI Free Tuition You Need a 2.5 GPA, But Free Diapers Requires a 3.0 GPA
Thursday, June 22, 2017
In Rhode Island, to get free college at CCRI, you need just a 2.5 GPA, but to get free diapers for your child, and you are a student at CCRI, then you better hit the books and get your grades up to a 3.0 GPA.
Moreover, the free college program has no means testing and Project Undercover - the non-profit which provides the free diaper program - requires you to demonstrate an economic need.
CCRI is poised to be the sole beneficiary of Governor Gina Raimondo's Promise scholarship program.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTAdoption of the program in this year's proposed budget will make Rhode Island the fourth state to have tuition-free community college, allowing every resident the opportunity to earn an associate's degree tuition free. There is no means testing for the program and few standards. The 2.5 GPA is for students entering CCRI.
The cost would be roughly $3 million in the FY18 (for the first cohort of students) and then $6 million the following year, when there are two classes. But the academic requirement for taxpayer paid college is substantially lower than the free diapers through the non-profit.
The Free Diaper Program
The "Diaper Scholarship" program is part of Project Undercover and eligible for CCRI students at all of the school’s four campuses. The program requires students to have a grade point average of at least 3.0, “demonstrate extenuating financial circumstances, and be enrolled in at least their second semester at CCRI.”
“Our students juggle families, jobs, and school while making sure they have access to reliable transportation, health care, and income,” said CCRI Dean of Students Michael Cunningham. “CCRI has been making efforts, especially in the past two years, to increase its connections with social service agencies, nonprofits, and other colleges to make sure it can make strong referrals to students in need. This type of opportunity will make a deep and meaningful difference for the award recipients and could well allow them to focus more attention on school or graduate a little bit quicker – or even just alleviate some of the daily stress.”
Project Undercover said it will provide diapers and baby wipes for an entire calendar year for up to five students who have a child under age 7 or are expecting. Applications for the scholarship are open until Friday, June 30.
Project Undercover’s core mission is to provide diapers, socks, underwear, and baby wipes to help the approximately 20,000 Rhode Island children under age 7 living in poverty. The organization is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and created the scholarship in honor of its co-founder, Frank DePetrillo, who has spent the majority of his life helping Rhode Islanders in need.
Lesson to be learned
Cynics may say that the mediocre students get tuition free for two years, but only the top students are eligible for diapers. Students interested in applying for the diaper scholarship can use their MyCCRI email and password to log in to the application portal at ccri.awardspring.com. Applications close June 30.
Related Slideshow: FY18 House Finance Budget
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