Schoolcraft takes a step toward the bachelor’s degree

Michigan’s community colleges have moved one step closer to being able to offer selected bachelor’s degrees, which means Schoolcraft is one step closer to offering these degrees in culinary arts and nursing.
The Michigan House of Representatives has passed legislation that would amend the Community College Act to allow community colleges to grant baccalaureate degrees in cement technology, culinary arts, maritime technology, and nursing. A similar bill, which adds nuclear technology to the list of academic disciplines, is under consideration in the Senate.
In a move showing bipartisan support, the House approved HB 4837, sponsored by Rep. John Walsh (R-Livonia), and HB 5533, sponsored by Rep. Joel Sheltrown (D-West Branch). Walsh is the former Executive Director of Development and Government Relations at Schoolcraft College.
The legislation requires approval by both houses before it can be sent to the Governor for consideration. As of this writing a timeline had not been established for action on the Senate bill.
Schoolcraft College President Conway Jeffress expressed hope that the legislation will continue to move through the process. “We’ve been preparing for this for a long time,” he said. “We’ve done our homework and are ready to move on our plans to offer baccalaureate degrees in culinary arts and nursing.”
“This legislation is critical for Michigan’s citizens and students, as well as the future of our state,” said Mike Hansen, President of the Michigan Community College Association (MCCA). “We applaud today’s vote, which is truly a step forward in the retooling of Michigan’s workforce and its continuing transition into a knowledge-based economy.”
Access and affordability are priorities
For the past two years, Schoolcraft has joined the Michigan Community College Association (MCCA) in supporting this legislation. In its summary of the legislation, the MCCA points to experience from other states indicating that workforce-related bachelor’s degrees offered by community colleges have succeeded in two ways – in offering degrees that are in demand locally but that are not offered by nearby four-year institutions, and  in expanding access to higher education for adult learners.
 “Providing access to higher education has always been, and will always be, a core mission of the community college,” said Jeffress. “This legislation is aimed at supporting this mission. It builds on the community college track record of removing the barriers that stand between individuals and their educational goals.”
Degree attainment tied to economic development
The education level of a state’s population has long been associated with the state’s overall economic vitality. Recent research and reports have recommended that Michigan allow community colleges to offer the bachelor’s degree as a means of expanding the number of baccalaureate degree holders in the state while also meeting the needs for educated workers in certain high-demand fields.
Among these reports are one from the Lieutenant Governor’s Commission on Higher Education and Economic Growth (Cherry Commission), 2004; a report from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth (DLEG), 2007; and a study by the Institute for Higher Education Policy (Washington, DC), 2008. (The full report can be found at www.mcca.org).
“We can help Michigan produce more people with four-year degrees,” said Jeffress. “The faculty, the facilities and the employer relationships are in place at community colleges. We can make a difference and we can do it cost-effectively.”
Targeted degrees are sought
The impending shortage of nurses in Michigan has been well-documented. Less well-known is the fact that Michigan also faces a shortage of qualified nurse-educators to prepare the next generation of nurses. In order to teach, these nurse-educators must have a master’s degree or higher.
“Michigan needs more associate- and bachelor’s-degree level nurses, and this legislation would enable the state to produce more of those individuals,” Jeffress said. “The legislation would also help to feed the educational pipeline so that more bachelor’s degree nurses would be available to move in to master’s programs.”
All of Michigan’s 28 community colleges offer an associate degree in nursing and interest in offering the four-year degree is high among those institutions. Schoolcraft is one of the colleges that has publicly stated its intentions of offering such a degree if the law is changed.
Schoolcraft has also made it clear that it wishes to offer a bachelor’s in culinary arts. Schoolcraft is one of nine community colleges in Michigan offering associate degrees in culinary arts and all of the colleges have expressed an interest in having the option of offering the four-year degree.
The other degrees specified in the legislation include nuclear technology; cement technology, sought by Alpena Community College; and maritime technology, sought by Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City.