Students Line Up For Tax Break Community Colleges Allowed Deferral Of Tuition To Take Advantage Of New Law

Thousands of Spokane community college students took advantage of a new federal scholarship program Friday.

Instead of paying their winter quarter tuition in December, about 2,400 students waited until Friday to tap into the new Hope Scholarship program.

Introduced by President Clinton last year, the program lets students use up to $1,500 in tuition as a tax credit. However, only fees paid after 1997 are eligible.

To give students that option, the community colleges extended its usual mid-December deadline.

“It’s a one-time deal because of the new law,” said Linda McDermott, district managing director of budget and finance.

At noon, the line was about 20-deep at Spokane Falls Community College, but there also were moments when the stairwell to the cashier’s office was empty.

The community colleges offered the deferral to 10,000 students last November. About 2,250 students applied for it: 1,300 at Spokane Community College and 950 at SFCC.

To prepare for the crowds Friday, community college officials nearly doubled the number of people working as cashiers from eight to 15. They also added 22 phone lines so students could call and pay their tuition by credit card.

On Friday, both colleges offered free cookies to waiting students. At SFCC, clowns stood by the door to give balloons away.

Students were already in line when the SFCC cashier’s office opened at 7:30 a.m., McDermott said.

“As a single parent, this is another way for me to save money,” said Denise James, an SFCC student.

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MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: THE PROGRAM Introduced by President Clinton last year, the Hope Scholarship program lets students use up to $1,500 in tuition as a tax credit.