MCC President Dale K. Nesbary advocated for MCC in testimony before two Michigan legislative committees in Lansing on Feb. 19.
Joined by Michigan Community College Association President Mike Hansen, Nesbary sought sustainable operating funding for the state’s community colleges during his appearance before the Community Colleges Subcommittee of the Michigan Senate Appropriations Committee.
Nesbary spoke about community college initiatives that bolster student success and collaboration and how these initiatives relate to fiscal issues. He highlighted MCC’s work with businesses, sister institutions, Talent 2025, the Student Success and Completion Agenda, and the Achieving the Dream initiative.
Later that day, Nesbary was one of five community college presidents, along with representatives from a state university, to address the Joint Capital Outlay Subcommittee of the Senate and House Appropriations Committee. The campus leaders represented institutions which had received planning authorizations in 2013 for capital improvements. Included in those projects was MCC’s $4.6 million Science Center.
Nesbary and his colleagues successfully encouraged the legislature to approve the construction authorization projects. Following their testimony, the bill was reported to the Senate floor, where it passed and was sent to the House. It is expected that the bill will be transmitted to the Governor for signature.
“I am thankful to the committee for its support of community college education,” said Nesbary. “I am particularly grateful to State Senator Goeff Hansen and Representatives Marcia Hovey Wright and Colleen Lamonte for their continued support of MCC and our infrastructure needs.”