Eastern Gateway Community College (EGCC) and the UFCW Free College Program

Greetings:
 
I am writing today to share some updates about Eastern Gateway Community College (EGCC) and the UFCW Free College Program.
 
As you may remember, earlier this year, EGCC was forced to suspend the Free College Program by the Department of Education due to the Department’s belief that the Program violates Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.  In response, EGCC filed an injunction against the Department of Education to allow the Program to continue while it is under review.  I am pleased to report that a judge granted the preliminary injunction meaning that EGCC will be opening enrollment for the Free College Program today, October 25th to current students.
 
While this is certainly great news for our members and their family members who are currently enrolled in the Program, we are still waiting for the Department of Education to issue a Final Program Review which will determine the ultimate future of EGCC’s Free College Program.  Therefore, we are still asking local unions to continue to hold off promoting the Program as a benefit of union membership until we are more certain about its future.  Local unions should feel free to notify existing students that they are eligible to enroll in the upcoming semester. Those students should go to EGCC’s website for more information: https://egcc.edu/union-inquiry-form/.
 
Please know that we remain determined to find a way to continue to make sure our members have access to the education programs they have earned and deserve. 
 
Thank you for all you do to support our union family and we will continue to share updates with you as we receive them.
 
Sincerely and fraternally,
Marc Perrone
​UFCW President