Unit fees will be waived for one year for first-time, full-time, community college students in California, under a bill signed by Governor Brown. Supporters say it will boost declining enrollment, as well as a shortage of college-educated workers. At the Sierra College Nevada County campus, Executive Dean Stephanie Ortiz says enrollment is affected by the better financial times…

click to listen to Stephanie Ortiz

Ortiz also points out that about 60% of local Sierra College students already receive fee waivers, due to financial need. And she says the bill will have a more significant impact on a “promise grant” they received from the state early this year designed to defray living expenses…

click to listen to Stephanie Ortiz

At $46 per unit, or less than $1400 a year, California’s community colleges are still the cheapest in the country.