Comments on: The Rodney Dangerfield of Higher Ed

By: Valerie

Valerie — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:47:09 +0000

As a community college professor for over 25+ years I have NEVER read such a thoughtful and articulate overview of what community colleges are all about!

There are few individuals, families and communities that a local community college has not touched in a positive way.

I only wish this guy was the President of the community college where I work— you are lucky Michigan!

By: Dan W

Dan W — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:54:19 +0000

Thank you for the recognition for community colleges. If it were not for my local community college–I would never of had the chance to complete my degree.

I was accepted at one of Michigan’s top 4 year universities– but, I was not ready to go away to school. I came home, feeling rejected and later enrolled in my local community college.

It was a life saver! Thanks community colleges everywhere for the second chance you provide to many.

By: Skipper Novack

Skipper Novack — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:58:41 +0000

What frightens me is when money is wasted. Why do these college and university chancellors make 250K/year plus have $3K/month housing allowances, chauffeurs, extreme perks and more coming out of the college budgets? If they claim to care how the money is spent, why waste it on a driver? Why the crazy high salary in these hard times? Why are the lowest paid staff getting laid off and the highest paid folk getting bonuses? I never made that kind of money in the military!

By: Mike Rush

Mike Rush — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:03:45 +0000

As we have grown accustomed to, Tom Watkins is right on! In the Great Lakes Bay Region Delta College is an integral part or our educational system. The college not only challenges advanced high school students and students just beginnng their collegiate years, it also provides an outstanding opportunity for those in the workforce needing a fresh start to retool their careers. Excellent article Tom, keep bringing it!!

By: Glen McWalters

Glen McWalters — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 04:01:58 +0000

The Clinton quote says it all–” If CC’s were not invented yet, there would be a mad rush to do so!”

Let’s hope the leadership at every Community College across the state and nation have picked this essay up and are sharing with their staff, Boards ,local community leadership, our legislature, Congress and the President .

We need leader at all levels to recognize this valuable community assest and provide the funding so they can help prepare young people today to be productive citizens and provde the retraining for displaced workers so they may earn a living and turn the currrent “American Nightmare” back into the American Dream.

4 stars!

By: Mark Savitskie

Mark Savitskie — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 14:37:39 +0000

The community colleges certainly serve an important purpose in this evolving process of how secondary education is provided. Though not delivered in the ivy-covered buildings of our great universities, the community college education received is economical, effective and efficient. For the first generation college student in particular, they provide entre into the American dream.

By: Jordan

Jordan — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:19:20 +0000

As a student, I have to agree that I’ve often felt embarrassed about telling people that I attend Schoolcraft Community College. I generally follow the statement up with some kind of excuse, such as “Well, I’m only at Schoolcraft until I have enough credits to transfer to Wayne State…”. After reading Mr. Watkins article (and doing a bit of self-evaluation) I’ve realized that I am on an educational track that will get me to where I want to go just as fast as the “University Kids”. I save money, receive more personalized attention from the professors, and I enjoy the convenient location. I have seen many university students become swallowed up in the stimulus overload that comes with a big school, and I have personally never felt that pressure at a Community College. The atmosphere is laid back, but still professional and demanding. Like many, I am interested in pursuing a career in Nursing. The only issue that I have encountered is with the admission and counseling department. Today, I went to apply to the Nursing Program. Though I have an excellent GPA and great test scores, I was told that they were hoping to get me into the Fall 2013 semester. This suggests that they desperately need to broaden their program and expand to meet the capacity demands. If our state has such a nursing shortage, it can surely be blamed on the restricted and limiting programs!

By: Jon Todd

Jon Todd — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:26:25 +0000

I agree with Mr. Watkins the Community College is an important asset and should be viewed as such. I went to HFCC and it helped me get back to college after dropping out a few years earlier and it allowed me to start a new career. It is the best way to help people get re-educated after being laid off and it allows new students to get started without paying the high costs of a four year university.

By: william arnold

william arnold — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:18:07 +0000

Mr. Watkins articulates well the value of our community colleges… much more than simply a feeder system for our branded universities.

By: Dan Redford

Dan Redford — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:00:38 +0000

You are right, community colleges do not get enough respect. This is really causing a “collaboration vacuum” as well. Because students at Michigan’s 4 year higher education institutes are considered “off limits” by the “community college kids,” they don’t seek friendships with those students, nor integration into the resources that are provided at the 4 year institutions.

I myself am a student at MSU, and my one regret in my four years here is that I have only recently explored LCC. That place certainly has some innovative minds and some great resources for young, budding entrepreneurs. Their video, tv, and radio production facility is top notch. Everybody that graduates from somewhere gets the same thing: a piece of paper. Its all about what you do with that piece of paper, which is only limited by a) your imagination and b) your willingness to act on your imagination every day.