Gov. Granholm Appoints Commission to Increase University Graduates, Jobs

Lieutenant Governor to Head Group to Link Higher Education to Job Growth

June 23, 2004       Leave a Comment
By: Dave Rogers

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      Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm has appointed a commission to find ways to double the percentage of Michigan citizens who attain college degrees and other credentials and boost Michigan's economic growth.

      

Citing the need for higher levels of education in both the state's manufacturing industries and the new technology-based businesses it hopes to attract, Granholm said the Lieutenant Governor's Commission on Higher Education and Economic Growth is critical to Michigan's economic future.

      "From top to bottom, Michigan's economy is becoming more infused with jobs that are knowledge-based and require a higher level of technical skill than what a student can receive in high school," Granholm said.
      "The Commission will work on ideas to increase the number of students seeking a post-secondary experience, whether it is college or vocational training, because, as a state, we must instill in young people that a college education or vocational training is a life necessity."

Serving on the Commission will be:

Fawzea Abusalah of Dearborn, a recent college graduate and legal assistant with Ayad & Associates;

Lu Battaglieri of East Lansing, president of the Michigan Education Association;

Richard Blouse of Birmingham, president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce;

Mary Elizabeth Bunn of Detroit, secretary-treasurer of the International Union, UAW;

State Representative Sandra Caul of Mt. Pleasant;

State Senator Irma Clark-Coleman of Detroit;

Brian Cloyd of Grand Rapids, director of corporate and community relations for Steelcase, Inc.;

Mary Sue Coleman of Ann Arbor, president of the University of Michigan;

Paula Cunningham of Lansing, president of Lansing Community College;

Daniel DeGrow of Port Huron, superintendent of the St. Clair County Intermediate SchoolDistrict;

Debbie Dingell of Dearborn, vice chair of the GM Foundation and executive director of government and community relations;

Steve Hamp of Dearborn, president of The Henry Ford;

David Hecker of Ann Arbor, senior partner of the Michigan Federation of Teachers and School Related Personnel;

Lawrence Hidalgo of Williamston, training director for the Lansing Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee;

Kenneth Hill of Detroit, executive director of the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program;

David Hollister of Lansing, director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth;

State Senator Wayne Kuipers of Holland;

Mary Lannoye of Williamston, budget director for the State of Michigan;

Jack Litzenberg of Grand Blanc, program director and senior program officer at the Mott Foundation;

Albert Lorenzo of Warren, president of Macomb Community College;

Paul Massaron of Southfield, owner of PEM Consulting;

Mark Murray of Grand Rapids, president of Grand Valley State University;

Robert Naftaly of West Bloomfield, chair of the State Tax Commission;

Juan Olivarez of Grand Rapids, president of Grand Rapids Community College;

John Porter of Ann Arbor, former state Superintendent of Public Instruction;

Phil Power of Ann Arbor, chairman of Hometown Communications Glenda Price of Detroit, president of Marygrove College;

Jay Rising of Williamston, director of the Michigan Department of Treasury;

Gary Russi of Rochester, president of Oakland University Lou Anna Simon of East Lansing, in-coming president of Michigan State University;

Lee Sprague of Manistee, ogema of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians;

Shirley Stancato of Detroit, president of New Detroit Dennis Stanek of Gladstone, superintendent of the Delta-Schoolcraft Intermediate School District;

Kathleen Straus of Detroit, president of the State Board of Education;

Teri Takai of East Lansing, director of the Department of Information Technology;

Gail Torreano of Mt. Pleasant, president of SBC Michigan;

Maria Vaz of West Bloomfield, associate provost and dean of graduate programs at Lawrence Technology University;

Tom Watkins of Northville, State Superintendent of Public Instruction;

Leola Wilson of Saginaw, member of the Saginaw Intermediate School District Board of Education;

State Representative Gretchen Whitmer of East Lansing;

      The four state legislators, five state department directors, and state school board president will serve as non-voting members of the Commission.

      "We have assembled an impressive cadre of education and business leaders who will blend their talents to achieve our common goal - the best educated and trained workforce in North America," Granholm said.

      Two-thirds of the jobs created in the next 10 years will require post-secondary education or training. The Commission's work is imperative to the state's economic well-being Cherry said.

      "When I graduated from high school, you could take your high school diploma to any factory and get a good payingjob," said Cherry.

      "Today, advanced manufacturing jobs require something more, making it imperative that we increase the number of citizens who attend college or vocational schools."

      Gov. Granholm said that the Cherry Commission also would address the fall off in terms of students who express an interest in attending college, but then do not go.

      Studies show that 90 percent of high school students express an interest in a post-secondary education, yet only 41 percent go on to college or vocational school. Only 18 percent graduate with a bachelor's degree within six years.

      "Whether it is making college more affordable or making sure that students are adequately prepared in high school, I look forward to the Commission's recommendations on how we can bolster these numbers," Granholm said.

      The new Commission will hold its organizational meeting on Wednesday, July 14, to begin its work. The Commission members will meetin smaller work groups over the remainder of the summer to divide up issues of importance for further study. In September, the Commission, as a whole, will hold hearings around the state to hear public testimony.

      For more information, visit: http://michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-23442-96060--,00.html

      In related economic development news, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) Wednesday said a $5 million automotive industry training grant will be used to train more than 1,300 hourly and salaried workers for Auto Alliance International, a joint venture between Mazda Corp. and the Ford Motor Co. in Flat Rock.

      The grant was awarded by the Department of Labor to the Downriver Community Conference, which represents 18 Downriver communities in Wayne County.

      The grant The facility will be the production site for the 2005 Ford Mustang. "I applaud the hard work that the Auto Alliance and the Downriver Community Conference have put forth to receive this award from the Department of Labor," Stabenow said.

      "I have supported this project since I came to the Senate, because it will benefit the workers and their communities and will help keep Michigan's automotive industry competitive and on thecutting edge of production technology."

      For more information, visit: http://stabenow.senate.gov/press/2004/062204AutomotiveTrainingGrant.htm

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Dave Rogers
Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read, respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City. (Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com) More from Dave Rogers

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