The Bangor Daily News has published several articles in the past few months pertaining to the viability of two-year public colleges awarding associate degrees, and four-year colleges awarding associate, bachelor’s, master’s and-or doctoral degrees. Then there is Maine Maritime Academy offering degrees in marine-related fields, which plays a vital role in Maine’s maritime industry. One suggestion was to combine all public higher education under the University of Maine System, another was to add community college to the Maine Technical College System and the last was to continue the mission of MMA that serves our maritime needs in a state with 3,500 miles of coastline.

My suggestion is to change the Maine Technical Colleges’ mission to the Maine technical-community colleges. Maine needs a community college concept to increase opportunities of our high school graduates. Maine has the dubious distinction of having one of the highest rates of students graduating from high school and one of the lowest rates of graduates going on to college. The main reason for this low college attendance by high school graduates is we lack community colleges, where tuition is affordable. Statistics bear this out.

Maine must develop a community college program that will be affordable, accessible and accountable. Our sister New England states have such a system that makes a college experience possible. We need this especially because we are at the bottom of the economic ladder and have thousands of youngsters who should be given the opportunity of attending college where tuition rates are not a barrier.

Presently there seems to be competition between the University of Maine System and the Maine Technical College System. In other states the community college concept opens the doors to high school graduates who lack the money or whose high school record rules them out. Maine students (K-12) need an incentive, and need assurance that further education is available to them. There are hundreds of youngsters with potential, sometimes hidden potential, who would blossom if given a shot at a two-year college experience. For example, a few years ago a community college student was accepted in one of the highest academic colleges in the country (Amherst College in Massachusetts), and graduated at the top of his class. There are many pearls out there – given the opportunity – who would be capable of earning a two-year associate degree or eventually a four-year bachelor’s degree.

To accomplish this would simply take an act by the next Legislature to make this change. Another suggestion is for the next Legislature to establish a coordinating committee, as was recommended in the Rosser Report presented to the Legislature and the governor, in February 1995, under the title, “Keeping Promises: Honoring our Commitment To Education Equity.”

The coordinating committee would ensure cooperation among the State Board of Education, the University of Maine System, the Maine Technical College System and Maine Maritime Academy. The coordinating committee would consist of the commissioner of education and the chair of the State Board of Education; the chancellor of the University of Maine System and chair of its board of trustees; the president of the Maine Technical College System and chair of its board of trustees; and the president of Maine Maritime Academy and chair of its board of trustees.

The commissioner of education would convene the first meeting of the coordinating committee. Thereafter, meetings should be held no less frequently than twice a year, in accordance with general procedural rules adopted by the committee. The committee would report its deliberations and any recommendations to the governor and Joint Standing Committee of Education by Feb. 15 each year.

We already emphasize the necessity of coordinating efforts in K-12, Department of Education for affordability, accessibility and accountability. The governor and the Legislature should require higher education to coordinate their efforts to achieve the same results. If education is the underpinning of economic growth, then it behooves us to make higher education more affordable and more accessible. Establishing a community college concept, within the existing two-year Technical College System, which already serves this purpose, would assure Maine parents and children that a college experience is possible for high school graduates who want to continue their education. Plus, more two-year or four-year college graduates would be an attraction for businesses to expand in Maine or establish in Maine.

This will assist Maine in developing the basic ingredient of an educated employee pool. This will also give our high school graduates the affordable opportunity they need and deserve.

Nat Crowley Sr., of Stockton Springs, is a retired educator and legislator.