Laughner: Arizona Wins When Public, Private Partner

Maria Laughner, Arizona regional director for The College St Scholastica, writes: Budget cuts continue to stress Arizona’s education system, leaving higher learning on a financial shelf too high for many students to reach. As the cost of college tuition continues to rise, two colleges in the East Valley are providing a stepstool to ease the burden for today’s scholars. Mesa Community College (MCC) and The College of St. Scholastica, a 103-year-old Catholic Benedictine independent private college, have partnered to bridge the gap between a two-year and a four-year degree for community college students wanting to further their education.