Maine College Circle is based on the following beliefs, which come from over twenty years of work in college planning for students throughout the state of Maine.

    •Education really matters in our communities. Education matters to our present and our future. Helping more Maine students have a successful higher education experience will help them and help us build a stronger future.

•We should foster "college-ready" students. Being "college-ready" is much more than having accumulated an adequate amount of information. The most important quality of a truly college-ready student is an eagerness to learn more.

•Building interest takes years. Building this interest and the aspirations to attend college must be done over years, not months.

•The quality of the experience and the ability to create value matter. Seeing more students enroll in college is not a worthy goal. The quality of the experience and the value a student creates from the experience are less measurable, but far more important. A new initiative seeks to increase to 80% the number of students who enroll in college. Today, roughly two out of ten Maine ninth graders continue their education to earn an associate or bachelor's degree. Coaxing more students into applying to college is not the solution.

•Community conversation and expectations are essential. Students attend college when their parents and communities share those expectations and when the opportunity of college is part of the community conversation beginning in elementary school.

•We need to take a real look at why they don't go. Many students don't think they are able to go to college. Many choose not to go to college because they have lost interest. Many students see the cost to be greater than the value. Some choose to go to college, but not because they want to learn more. Many students start college, but don't finish.

•It's not about cost. To see more students attend college, many consider the solution to be simply making it more accessible – more affordable. That solution is far too simplistic.

•Higher education is not necessary, just very valuable. Though there will always be those who argue that not all students should go or need to go to college, continued and advanced learning is rarely necessary, but always valuable, for the individual and for the future of the community. With all that is offered today under the umbrella of "college," all students should see their opportunity to attend college because all students can benefit greatly.

•We should do better. To do this, starting early is essential. Better access to information is essential. Community engagement is essential. We can do better.

            Bob Stuart, Director, Maine College Circle