TEMPE — A plan to provide qualified low-income students with free tuition at any of the state’s three public universities was given tentative approval by the Arizona Board of Regents last week, though it’s unclear how the program’s cost will be covered.
Known as Centennial Scholars, the program would provide qualified high school students who graduate after 2012 the chance to avoid paying for college classes if they promise to get good grades, conduct community service and stay out of trouble.
While regents appeared cautiously optimistic about starting the scholarship — which was originally planned by Gov. Janet Napolitano — University of Arizona officials expressed concern over what they see as an unfunded mandate.
The plan would require the state’s three public universities to shift the current financial aid resources they have to cover the program. That could potentially deprive other needy students of help, or force the institutions to further limit how many academic scholarships they give to high-achieving students.
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And if the scholarship program does what it’s intended to by helping convince impoverished families that college is a legitimate option for their children, the universities could see a massive increase in requests for aid — money that is already stretched thin.
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