SR-170, As Adopted by Senate, April 15, 2008

            Senators Hardiman, Anderson, Brown, Jansen, Kuipers, Van Woerkom, Allen, Stamas, George, Garcia, Birkholz, McManus, Cropsey, Clark-Coleman and Jelinek offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 170.

            A resolution designating April 15, 2008, as Community College Day in the state of Michigan.

            Whereas, The first Michigan two-year college, Grand Rapids Junior College, opened in 1914 to provide recent high school graduates with two years of general education classes, preparing them for future education or workforce experiences; and

            Whereas, Twenty-seven additional community colleges have been established throughout Michigan since 1914. The community colleges of Michigan now are: Alpena Community College, Bay College, Delta College, Glen Oaks Community College, Gogebic Community College, Grand Rapids Community College, Henry Ford Community College, Jackson Community College, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Kellogg Community College, Kirtland Community College, Lake Michigan College, Lansing Community College, Macomb Community College, Mid Michigan Community College, Monroe Community College, Montcalm Community College, Mott Community College, Muskegon Community College, North Central Michigan College, Northwestern Michigan College, Oakland Community College, St. Clair County Community College, Schoolcraft College, Southwestern Michigan College, Washtenaw Community College, Wayne County Community College, and West Shore Community College. These institutions educate nearly a half-million students each year; and

            Whereas, Michigan community colleges have developed and evolved their educational offerings to meet the needs of their communities and Michigan as a whole with state-of-the-art technical and vocational programs, while maintaining high academic standards; and

            Whereas, Michigan's community colleges are recognized as leaders in workforce preparation, training, and retraining, as well as offering community services and cultural opportunities. Michigan's students investing in a Michigan community college education realize a 19 percent annual return on that investment, and local businesses and organizations also benefit from that education and their participation in numerous public and private education efforts; and

            Whereas, The role community colleges play in Michigan's economic development continues to be more vital as our state's workforce competes nationally and globally for the jobs of tomorrow; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved, in the Senate, That the members of this legislative body designate April 15, 2008, as Community College Day in the state of Michigan, and we urge the appropriate observance; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Michigan Community College Association members as a token of our appreciation.