“President Obama has been saying free community college for all the students, and I agree with that, but I don’t agree that it should be free, I agree that you have to earn it by working hard, and if you work hard, it won’t cost you,” said Cerritos College President Dr. Jose Fierro.

He presented a new scholarship initiative that will give students the opportunity to earn a costless education or a discount on textbooks.

The initiative looks to help about 800 high school graduates with providing them, what he believes are robust services by covering the tuition or books (up to $200 per term), based on performance.

He went on to describe the process of the initiative.

“We’ll give you all you need, we’ll help you pick your schedule, and we’ll cover the tuition, if you do well in your classes, if you meet with your counselor, […].

“We want to put support services around the students to make them successful, rather than just giving them money,” he said.

The purpose of the scholarship initiative is to increase graduation rates.

The highest time for students to graduate from Cerritos is six years and Fierro wasn’t to pleased with those rates.

Only about six or seven people out of 100 graduate from Cerritos in two years, about 15 percent in three years, about 32 percent in four years, and 39 percent in six years.

Board President Dr. Shin Liu supported the new initiative because it will allow more local students to enroll and complete their degrees in time.

“This program will allow more local high school graduates attending college within one year of leaving high school,” she said.

Fierro also plans to pay a lot of attention to first generation, low income, and underrepresented students to help increase their chances for success.

The president continued by explaining the importance of a degree.

“That first degree makes a huge difference, if you actually get to the finish line and that associate’s degree, their chances of going forward increase, and even if you don’t, your income increases significantly, so for me that part is very important,” he said.