ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Hundreds of students from Maryland's 16 community colleges made their way to the State Capital to gain support for Governor Martin O'Malley's budget that increases state aid to community colleges.
About a dozen students from Wor-Wic Community College joined the rally and met with lawmakers to urge them to support the budget.
"My first semester of school, I was at a four-year university and I couldn't continue because the costs were just too much. So the affordability and accessibility of Wor-Wic I know means so much to the students," student Tori Nichols said. She is just one of many students struggling to make her way through college.
"We need to let them know that not only do we need them, but they need us. We didn't come here for a hand out, but a hand up," student Gregory Dorsey Jr. said.
The Governor's proposed FY 2014 operating budget includes an increase of 7% in direct aid to community colleges.
"Wor-Wic, we grew 28% from 2008-2012. Funding stayed flat, so our actual funding per student from the state was down 22% per student. Locally, funding is even worse. It's fallen 39% per student. What we're asking legislators to do is maintain the governor's budget - vote for it," President of Wor-Wic Dr. Ray Hoy said.
It's a measure delegate Norman Conway says is needed for the future of Maryland's economy and quality of life. "They're the onsite in every county that can provide help to our businesses, our industries, to meet the needs of skills needed by their workforce," he said.
On Thursday, members of the House of Delegates will meet to discuss the budget for community colleges. On Friday, the budget discussion will hit the Senate floor.
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