MCCS in the News

Instructor Michael DeBlois of YCCC stands before a class gesturing, with several rows of students seen from behind.

What Community Colleges Bring to the Civil-Dialogue Push

May 28, 2026
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Maine’s community colleges, as part of College Presidents for Civic Preparedness, are part of a nationwide effort to teach students about civil discourse to provide meaningful, practical skills. Those regular opportunities to engage in civil dialogue, says David Daigler, president of the Maine Community College System, “are essential skills for the workplace and they’re essential skills for democracy.”  “It’s not about conquering or winning the day,” he says. “It’s about understanding and being understood.” Read More

After Uncertainty, Maine’s Free College Program Is Here To Stay

April 15, 2026
Inside Higher Ed
Maine community college leaders and students breathed a sigh of relief after lawmakers narrowly passed a supplemental budget permanently funding the state’s free community college program, albeit with some cost-saving tweaks. Gov. Janet Mills, who proposed and has been a driving force behind the program, signed the legislation Friday. Read More