SR-45, As Adopted by Senate, May 1, 2013

            Senator Booher offered the following resolution:

Senate Resolution No. 45.

            A resolution to declare May 2, 2013, as Community College Day in the state of Michigan.

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

            Whereas, Twenty-seven additional community colleges have been established throughout the state of Michigan since 1914. The community colleges of Michigan include 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 Community College, Lansing Community College, Macomb Community College, Mid Michigan Community College, Monroe County Community College, Montcalm Community College, Mott Community College, Muskegon Community College, North Central Community College, Northwestern Michigan College, Oakland Community College, St. Clair County Community College, Schoolcraft College, Southwestern Michigan College, Washtenaw Community College, Wayne County Community College District, 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 include state-of-the-art technical and vocational programs while maintaining high academic standards; and

            Whereas, Our state’s community colleges are now recognized as leaders in workforce preparation, training, and retraining, as well as offering community services and cultural opportunities to Michigan communities; and

            Whereas, Students investing in a Michigan community college education enjoy an attractive return on investment because of future earning capacity; and

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

            Resolved by the Senate, That we hereby declare May 2, 2013, as Community College Day in the state of Michigan. We urge appropriate observance of this occasion; 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.