LANSING – State Representative Dian Slavens (D-Canton) today voted to preserve funding for Michigan's community colleges, a move that will protect vital workforce development programs and jobs at Michigan's 28 community colleges. The budget is the first of 15 departmental budgets to pass the House as the Legislature moves toward its Sept. 30 deadline.
"Our community colleges are the foundation of higher education here in Michigan, opening the door for our young people and helping out-of-work residents learn new skills to compete in the 21st century global economy," Slavens said. "As a graduate of Oakland Community College, I know firsthand how important Michigan's community colleges are to making higher education attainable and affordable for students of all ages. Supporting these valuable institutions will give our residents the training they need to land a good-paying job and make a better life for themselves and their families."
The budget that passed today restored cuts that had been made by the Senate. Under that plan, the Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD) stood to lose nearly $727,000 in much-needed funding at a time when its enrollment is up 20 percent over last year. WCCCD also plays a key role in the success of the No Worker Left Behind Program, which has enrolled more than 82,000 unemployed or underemployed workers who seek re-training to land good-paying jobs in high-demand fields.
The budget that passed also included language to encourage community colleges to pursue cost-cutting measures to maximize their funding, including increasing efficiency, establishing joint ventures with businesses and other educational institutions, and collaborating on programs or consolidating services.
"In these tough times, it's more important than ever that we support higher education in order to get Michigan's economy back on track," Slavens said. "I commend my colleagues for working together to protect this investment that is essential to building a first-class workforce that will attract high-tech companies and good-paying jobs to our state."