Who would have thought...that in a state that has some of the finest universities

[MichiganVote]

in the country...Obama would rally round the community colleges as the saving grace of Michigan employment.

Something wrong with this picture IMO.

[TahitiNut]

1. Well, since my late uncle was the Dean of Academic Services at Macomb County Community College ...

... and I know how MCCC is critical to working class families in the area in both lower division baccalaureate aspirations and paraprofessional training, I guess I'm glad the attention is focused on students whose families can't handle the "full ride" at the Big Ten. It's only be better if he spoke at Wayne State, my alma mater.

[kpominville]

2. Most people cannot afford state universities anymore

Sadly, community college is the best that most Michigan residents can afford anymore. Especially as our jobs continue to disappear and our wages continue to drop.

[blue_onyx]

6. If we would publicly fund...

higher education for our citizens, like Democratic candidate for governor Alma Wheeler Smith has proposed, it would help increase the number of people with college educations. I think our state should make the commitment that a college education is the new minimum.

[GreenEyedLefty]

3. My daughter just registered for classes at Oakland Comm. Coll.

We can't afford 4 years at MSU... so she's doing 2 + 2.

Michigan kids attend the community colleges. Not so much the 4 year universities, which have a higher rate of out of state and foreign students.

Community colleges are also where people can become police officers, EMT's, registered nurses, dental hygienists, etc.

So I agree with President Obama that community colleges deserve our support.

[handmade34]

4. until we remedy the absurdity of going insanely in debt

in order to get qa college education, community college is the best route for most people.

[lostinseganet1]

5. the big ones can take care of themselves

They are too expensive too.

[ibelieveinMichigan]

7. nothing wrong with this picture

It is highly unlikely that those that are unemployed want to spend four plus years pursuing a bachelor's degree that, quite frankly, doesn't prepare/train you for a specific job. Community colleges provide numerous trade school type programs that train students for very specific jobs. This type of focused retraining, as opposed to the intellectual exploration that occurs at universities, is exactly what the MI workforce needs.

[nRkiSt]

8. Heed these words-

"State Universities are breeding grounds, quite literally, for sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV), homosexual behavior, unwanted pregnancies, abortions, alcoholism, and drug abuse." -- James Dobson

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

10. All this, AND an education! It's a WIN-WIN! (go Tartars)

:hi:

(HFCC -> WSU)

[maddogesq]

9. CC's have a critical part to play, IMHO.

Something that is not often mentioned: A lot of HS grads are unsure as to career paths, and choosing the CC route is a more cost effective way of getting through the initial college courses. I got an associate from Only Chance College a.k.a. Orchard Country Club a.k.a. OCC, then worked for a few years before going back for a BA. And as mentioned, CC's are great places for specific skill training such as EMT, etc.

My problem is that I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up...teeheeheehee. :)