Maine Community College System

Timber harvesters and haulers are the backbone of Maine’s $8 billion forest products industry. But the most forested state in the country is losing loggers, fast.

Maine Community College System faculty and staff say the new software system has created problems with class registration, financial aid letters, and transcript access.

Nearly 16,000 students have enrolled across the community college system.

Gov. Janet Mills wants to continue offering high school grads two years of free community college. But a legislative committee is recommending that the program end with the Class of 2025.

College and university presidents were addressing lawmakers when the news of the funding freeze broke.

School officials attribute much of the growth to Maine's free college program.

The Maine Community College System has given out more than $10 million to students through the Free College initiative. That's just over half of the $20 million the legislature allocated for the effort.

Under a measure passed by the legislature earlier this year, the system is studying the feasibility of boosting on-campus housing options for students. A report to legislators is due by Dec. 6.

The new spending bill expands the free community college program to the high school classes of 2024 and 2025. Students are eligible for two years of free tuition.

The increase follows passage of a $20 million initiative to provide free tuition and fees for recent high school graduates