The Sun Journal, February 26, 2003
Time has come for community colleges
jmeyer@sunjournal.com
The forthcoming bill to establish a community college system for Maine will be heard before the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee. It could just as well be heard before the Business and Economic Development Committee because college-educated workers are a proven economic booster.
Wherever it's heard, it ought to be viewed positively. Enthusiastically, even.
Maine is one of a few states in this country that does not have a community college system. We have a strong technical college system and students do have opportunities to earn two-year degrees, but they often pay four-year tuition prices. For a lot of people, the pricey tuition makes education unattainable.
The proposal that Gov. Baldacci intends to put before the Legislature will open the door to a college degree to anyone, regardless of age or past performance in school. Even students who dropped out of high school will be able to make up missing credits through adult education programs at their local high schools and then be guided on to community college to pick from liberal arts or vocational education. And, if interested, students can then move forward and pursue a four-year university degree.
The goal of the community college system is to produce more college educated workers, something the business community has been calling on for years.
Higher education is tied to a stronger economy and higher incomes, which translates to increased tax revenues and a stronger tax base. And, as the economy strengthens and incomes rise, the desire to do business in Maine will increase, bolstering the economy even further.
The benefits of higher education are obvious, but there is also a cost.
The governor believes so strongly in this concept that it is among few new funding initiatives included in his proposed budget, a document straining under the burden of bridging a $1.1 billion deficit.
The immediate cost of setting up a coordinating advisory committee between the University of Maine System and the Maine Technical College System is $1 million, which the governor has included in his draft budget, to set up the partnership and draw in the adult education component.
Additional funding, at least $2 million, will be needed for equipment and renovation to technical college campuses to accommodate higher enrollment. That funding has been included the the governor’s proposed $70 million bond issue to be decided in November.
While it may cost millions to set up the system, there will be significant savings, too.
The university and college systems intend to sign joint purchasing agreements for fuel, supplies, books and some administrative and academic tools, like databases and grant writers. The exact savings cannot be calculated without contracts in hand, but it will be substantial.
Maine's Technical College System has enjoyed tremendous enrollment growth in recent years because campuses offer students a wide variety of course offerings that students want at reasonable prices. It is well prepared to transform itself into a community college system that makes sense for Maine people and Maine’s economy.