By WPRO News
Governor Gina Raimondo hosted a rally at the State House on Tuesday, promoting her proposal to expand the “Rhode Island Promise” scholarship to provide students with two free years at Rhode Island College. The scholarship is currently only active at the Community College of Rhode Island, but Raimondo said she’d met a number of students that made her case for expansion.
“Every one of them worked more than one job, was going to school full time, and was struggling to make ends meet,” she said. “The reality is, the number one reason people don’t finish [college] is money.”
Raimondo was joined by RIC President Frank Sanchez and a number of students.
“Just because it was the most affordable doesn’t mean it is affordable. Paying $8,000 for tuition is still a hard pill to swallow,” said RIC student Brandon Phivilay, who said eliminating the cost of tuition would benefit students and families in poverty.
A spokesman for House Speaker Nick Mattiello said he had no comments as the governor is set to testify in favor of her proposal before a House committee.
