Free Degree Promise Creates Opportunity for Aspiring Vermont Teacher
Where Are They Now: Chelsea's Story
Chelsea Tatro points proudly to her framed degree from the Community College of Vermont (CCV) on her UVM dorm room wall. It is an expression of her identity and a part of her story that she feels most proud to share. It is also a reminder of what she has accomplished and the comfort that success provides her. “I know I have that degree to fall back on, which feels so important,” she says.
At nineteen years old, Chelsea has taken major steps towards her goal of becoming a high school teacher, all while carrying zero debt from her first two years of college thanks to her enrollment in the state’s Early College Program and the Free Degree Promise.
“I am a first-generation college student—it means a lot to my parents to see their only child succeed and have an associate degree by eighteen.”
Early College Program Makes College Possible
Chelsea didn’t have long-formed plans for college; in fact, she never really considered it until her Essex High School counselor told her about CCV and the Early College Program, through which high school seniors can enroll full-time in college courses at no cost.
She was encouraged by the ease of the application and the accessibility of the program that dismantled the imposter syndrome she felt around the idea of college. “The SATs and ACTs were a barrier for me. And then there was a feeling that only the highest-achieving people go to college,” she remembered. “It isn’t true. You can do anything you want as long as you put your mind to it.”
CCV was close to home, so Chelsea was able to stay deeply connected to her high school community throughout her senior year. She worked in the school library, went to prom, and played on the lacrosse team. “It’s not like you’re no longer a high school student–you’re both at the same time,” she said. “And Early College was very welcoming. All of us students had a shared bond, which is what college should be.”
Chelsea enjoyed the support of friends and family as she navigated college. Her parents, neither of whom went to college, were especially supportive, purchasing her text books and driving her to school. “It was a very momentous occasion in my family. They were very proud.”
“When you remove the financial barrier, students view their future with clarity, hope, and excitement. They can focus on setting goals and planning a pathway to a degree,” said Sarah Kresser, the Early College Degree Program Manager at CCV. “This gives them more agency and motivation.”
Affordable Degrees Benefit All
During her first year at CCV, Chelsea learned about the Free Degree Promise, which builds on the state’s Early College program to offer Vermont’s young people a fast-track to a debt-free degree the year after high school graduation. In addition to covering fees, tuition, and a living stipend, the Promise connects students to career and education advisors.
“I was actually freaking out a bit, wondering how I would pay for the second year of college,” she recalled. “The Free Degree Promise is so important–I was able to graduate and get a degree in Behavioral Science. It created opportunity and created hope. It’s all pretty incredible.”
The Free Degree Promise is funded by the McClure Foundation, an organization committed to accessible and affordable postsecondary education as a part of its vision of a more equitable and resilient Vermont.
“It doesn’t matter your background, Early College and the Free Degree Promise is for anyone. Everyone should do it if they have the opportunity,” Chelsea said, “It opens so many doors.”
Many young Vermonters feel the same way. Since the program launched, CCV has welcomed a 70% larger cohort of Early College students representing over 80% of Vermont’s high schools. The college has also seen a 150% increase in the number of low-income students enrolled in Early College, the large majority of whom intend to complete their associate degree. “Having a degree is life changing. Not only do employers look for it; I feel so confident and accomplished,” Chelsea shared.
A Future Teacher in the Making
As a ninth-grade student, Chelsea’s grades were struggling and her history teacher stepped in and helped Chelsea discover her love of learning and reading. This experience showed her the powerful role of an educator. She saw a future for herself. “There is so much joy in taking responsibility for someone. I want to be this person for someone else,” she realized.
Today Chelsea is a junior at UVM, on track to receive her B.S. in Secondary Education through a “2+2 pathway” designed for CCV graduates. She plans to become a high school history teacher and have a similar impact on others that her teachers had on her. She’s especially excited to teach history. “We study history to remember people and mistakes and make sure the same mistakes don’t occur in the future. Not everyone loves it, but I do. Getting a job as a history teacher would mean the world to me.”
The McClure Foundation, an affiliate of the Vermont Community Foundation, hopes the early impacts of the Free Degree Promise will inspire the state of Vermont to continue the initiative beyond the Foundation’s five-year commitment, so that younger Vermonters can also count on accelerated associate degrees. Visit mcclurevt.org/free to join the campaign in making the Free Degree Promise permanent.