Baby Boomers May Be Lining Up When School Bells Ring This Fall

By: Timothy Fitzgerald

Back in the 1960s, I was a young student at San Jose State University in California pursuing my bachelor's degree. The 1960s were turbulent times. It was the height of the civil rights movement. I remember fighting to desegregate off campus student housing. I later led the winning campaign that made history in the state of California by mobilizing baby boomers on San Jose State campus to elect the first African-American campus student body president in the state university system

My zest for education did not end after I graduated from college. Forty years later, I am working on completing my third masters, a master's in Philosophy, at San Jose State University under the over 60 program.

It's great to be a student in the over 60 program. I don't pay tuition or fees. I enjoy
interacting with my student peers who may be thirty or more years younger than me.  I like providing my perspective in the classroom as a baby boomer.

Let's face it. Our generation likes to tell it like it is. We remade the face of American politics and society with our music, personal habits, and drive for all the education and knowledge we could consume. The younger generation can learn from us and at the same time, we can learn from them. Together, we can reshape American's educational system.

That's why I am a strong advocate of the over 60 program. This program isn't unique to San Jose State University. There are similar programs in other California State University campuses along with many community colleges and universities throughout the United States.

Different states have varying requirements. In Texas, students who are 65 and over may be eligible for up to six hours of free tuition studies per semester at Texas public universities and colleges. In South Carolina, students who are 60 and older can apply for free tuition at state-supported technical schools, colleges and universities.

In Georgia, students who are 62 and older may be eligible for free tuition at the colleges and universities in the University of Georgia system. At the University of Arkansas, students who are 60 and older may be eligible for free tuition. In Connecticut, students who are 62 and older may be eligible for free tuition at the University of Connecticut and Connecticut State University system along with its community colleges.

If you're thinking about returning to school, you should contact the financial aid office of your local community college or university to find out if it has a tuition and/or course fee waiver program for baby boomers.

Earn an Education Award by Serving Your Community

In addition, we all should consider serving our community. I personally am a staunch supporter of giving back to the community. And I am proud that in 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act into law.

One of the components of the Serve America Act is the Silver Scholars Program. Under this program, baby boomers who are 55 or older can earn an education award of $1,000 for 350 hours of community service.  You can use the award for your own education. Alternatively, you can transfer the award to your child or grandchild.

In today's world of the intellectual knowledge revolution, we as baby boomers have so many opportunities. We can do anything that we set our minds to do. Age should not be a barrier.

If you want to go to college, just do it. I'm glad I did.  

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Timothy Fitzgerald is the author of the memoir, "The Wawona Brotherhood: The San Jose State Campus Revolt." His second volume, "The Diamond in the Rough" will be released later this year. For more information about Mr. Fitzgerald, visit his web site http://www.timfitzgerald.org.