FRANKFORT – Senator Denise Harper Angel, D-Louisville, supported legislation last week that extends the tuition tax credit for students participating in the Metropolitan College until April 15, 2017.
Metropolitan College was established as a Louisville, Kentucky-based partnership among Jefferson Community and Technical College, the University of Louisville and charter business partner UPS. Its purpose is to provide postsecondary educational opportunities to employees of the qualified taxpayer as part of a combined work and postsecondary education program.
“This is an outstanding program,” said Senator Harper Angel. “A nationally recognized partnership, the Metropolitan College provides Kentucky residents with access to a tuition-free post-secondary education as well as outstanding employment opportunities.”
“UPS is grateful to Sen. Harper Angel and the state legislature for extending Metropolitan College funding,” said UPS Airlines Public Relations Manager Mike Mangeot. “This program is a great example of how public-private partnership can create wins for the entire commonwealth.”
Chartered and funded in 1998 by the state, the Metropolitan College Program resulted because of a planned expansion of UPS at the Louisville hub and a need for part-time workers to meet labor demands. If enough recruits were not available, state and local governments and educational officials knew that UPS would build elsewhere. A summit of these officials lead by Governor Paul Patton resulted in the partnership under which UPS provides part-time jobs, pays half the tuition, and reimburses a portion of the cost of textbooks for participants who successfully complete their coursework at either participating institution.
“Metropolitan College solved a labor force problem in Louisville,” said Senator Harper Angel. “This successful program allowed Louisville’s largest employer to keep employees at its international hub while providing post-secondary educational opportunities at UofL and JCTC.”
The legislation extending the deadline from 2013 to 2017 was delivered to Governor Beshear last Thursday for his signature.
Senator Harper Angel, who has served in the Senate since 2005, represents the 35th Senate District seat.
