No College Tuition for Math and Science Majors: More than Pi in the Sky?

September 10, 2007

Senator Max Baucus of Montana has a big sky idea: No college tuition for those who major in mathematics, science, and technology. Baucus said that the idea would be a key element of a $25 billion Education Competitiveness Act he expects to introduce in Congress this fall.

According to Baucus, the full scholarships would be good at any U.S. university, but would come with one string attached. Following graduation, students would be required to work or teach in their fields for at least four years.

The goal is to keep the U.S. ahead of the competition, specifically, from China and India.

"I think the challenge is fierce," Baucus told the Associated Press, "and I think we have a real obligation to go the extra mile and redo things a bit differently, so we leave this place in better shape than we found it."

Other elements of his act, Baucus said, would support increased salaries for rural teachers; more pre-kindergarten programs; and the creation of 25,000 merit-based teaching scholarships, which would also require a four-year postgraduate commitment, in this case to teach math, science, or technology.

Source: Billings Gazette, Aug. 20, 2007.