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Eastern Gateway Community College pulled the plug on its free college benefits program Wednesday, exercising what officials there are calling an "abundance of caution" after questions arose about Department of Education instructions for the fall semester.
DOE Midwest Division Chief Jeremy Early had issued a "cease and desist" notice July 18 ordering EGCC to pause its Free College Benefit program, but a week later EGCC President Michael Geoghegan said with the fall semester about to begin, DOE had indicated for the time being they could offer the program to new and returning students for the fall 2022 semester.
Geoghegan had been scheduled to meet Wednesday with Early, the author of both memos, but it was canceled after EGCC, "in an effort to proactively communicate with (Early) ... provided him with a list of discussion items for the session; each was related to the cease-and-desist letter sent by (him) on July 18. That letter contained several substantive references to a need for restructuring of the Free College Benefit Program, and accordingly, our discussion items and questions focused heavily on that subject."
They said Early responded by requesting a postponement "so that we can internally discuss all of the questions and provide answers."
"We understand that this is a frustrating change of direction for our students, our staff, and the EGCC community," Geoghegan said in a release issued by the college. "However, we know with certainty that this path will align with the most conservative elements of guidance received to date from DOE … and leave zero doubt as to whether we are being compliant with DOE's current directives," Geoghegan said in the statement.
Geoghegan could not be reached Wednesday for further comment.
EGCC students who enrolled for Fall 2022 courses on or before July 18 will be able to attend fall classes and use Title IV aid and/or the Free College Benefit.