Late on Monday, July 25, 2022, OCSEA and AFSCME received word that the U.S. Department of Education has informed our Free College partners that they can continue to enroll new and existing students for the Fall semester. This is very welcomed news, and more details about the future of the program will be available very soon. New and continuing students should contact Eastern Gateway Community College (EGCC) or Central State University (CSU) for additional information on their enrollment status. EGCC has told the union education partners that they have directly informed its students, via email, about their ability to continue their education under the Free College program.
In Solidarity, Chris Mabe
OCSEA President
EGCC’s announcement is available on their website HERE or see below:
College Update
July 25th, 2022
Eastern Gateway Community College is excited to announce that EGCC can continue to offer the Free College Benefit for new and existing students for the Fall 2022 semester.
Around 4:00 PM EST today, President Geoghegan received a call from Dr. Jeremy Early, DOE Midwest Division Chief for the Federal Student Aid (FSA) program, that EGCC can continue to disburse Pell and continue the Free College Benefit for Fall 2022. President Geoghegan is scheduled to meet with the Department of Education on Wednesday, 7/27 regarding the cease-and-desist order issued last week about the Free College Benefit Program. Dr. Early informed President Geoghegan on the call that the Department of Education did not want to wait for the Wednesday meeting due to the Fall start in two weeks.
We are thrilled to continue to provide our students with the Free College Benefit. We hope this lessens the confusion and stress for our students.
We will follow up with an update on Wednesday after the meeting.
Current and Returning Students can schedule advising appointments here: https://egcc.edu/students/student-support-services/academic-advising/
New students can apply here: https://egcc.edu/admission/