Universities in the state are disappointed
TRAVERSE CITY -- There is one less road block for Northwestern Michigan College and other community colleges across the state in their fight to offer four year degree programs.
Thursday the Michigan House of Representatives passed a bill that would allow community colleges, which traditionally offer two-year degrees to offer four-year bachelor’s degrees for nursing, culinary arts, cement technology, and maritime technology. The bills cause some competitive concern among representatives of four-year universities. They would prefer that community colleges stick to two-year degrees and preparing students to transfer to four-year schools.
The bill will now advance to the Senate. NMC says if it becomes a law, the community college would first pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Maritime Technology. It would set up a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing sometime after 2012.
NMC Spokesperson, Paul Heaton says, “It would enable us to provide the education that members of community say they want that they can not currently get here. It's very specific legislation in terms of types of degrees. This will not turn NMC into a 4 year college."
Republican State Representative Wayne Schmidt, who represents the 107th District voted in favor of the bill.
Schmidt says, "We are working hard to get the bill to the Senate. It would be great for Northern Michigan because students wouldn't have to leave and go downstate for a four-year degree."
The Executive Director of The Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan, which serves as a forum for the presidents and chancellors of 15 public universities says, "It is a waste of limited resources to encourage two-year colleges to add the professors, administrative support, and lab space needed to provide an accredited four-year degree."
The earliest the State Senate could see the bill would be November.
