Please submit your ideas for MCC's strategic priorities for the next three years related to the Core Principle of "Affordability" by posting a comment below.
Affordability - To offer opportunities to those of all economic levels to pursue their educational goals and personal enrichment
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At some point, MCC is going to have to look at a referendum. There should be some investigation into this, keeping in mind the college's current reputation in the community and reflecting upon what we can do to promote a favorable outcome. We also must be aware of funding source trends and do our best to maintain reasonable costs to attend even in the face of financial adversity.
ReplyDeleteManage costs by focusing on our current and future priorities and "sunset" old services, processes and programs that no longer serve our constituants well. We can't afford to keep adding without weeding out the old.
ReplyDeleteConsider the use of e-books as opposed to textbooks
ReplyDeleteI know that affordability is important, but in many ways I think this can lead us to cost-cutting measures that harm our other priorities. Education is valuable, and it's okay for students to pay for it. However, we should do what we can to help out - such as finanical aid, the Promise, e-books, etc. But I also think we need to promote the true value of what students are paying for.
ReplyDeleteMore openness in terms of financial costs and management of expenses.
ReplyDeleteWork with current area to develop grant opportunites and other alternate funding opportunities. (Do we have a department that can "professionally" write grants and manage them? Is this too much to expect from the Foundation office?)
ReplyDeleteCreation of a scholarship that is given out by specific departments to reward high achieving students. IE: Biology faculty members identifiy a student as a high achiever is able to earn a scholarship awarded from the department for their work.
ReplyDeletePartner with the community to assist in meeting our space needs.
ReplyDeleteAdult students are under represented and need help just as much if not more than the promise students. Help the returning adults find funding particualy when work force (unemployment) is out of funds. These folks are tax payers in McHenry County!
ReplyDeleteImprove publicity related to financial aid opportunities. Help students understand what federal, state, and private aid is available to them.
ReplyDeleteIdentify, apply for, and receive significant grant funding to support new programs and services without needing to increase tuition.
ReplyDeleteReview lab fee structure to increase transparency of course costs and ensure costs are as low as possible for students, without affecting quality.
ReplyDeleteIncrease scholarship opportunities through Foundation initiatives.
ReplyDeleteThe PROMISE program has done much to foster the availability/affordability of education to all economic levels of the community. Indeed, nothing of real value is ever free, and such is the same with the PROMISE program.
ReplyDeleteTo me, education is a privilege-- one that should be afforded to ALL those who are willing & able to pursue it. It should not be held at a premium. As an overtly priveleged society, it is sometimes hard to keep this in mind. That said, I think it's wonderful to have such a program where a mere handful of hours of community service can allow someone of a lower-income household to have the chance to receive an education. Most young students also still have yet to learn the valuable qualities of discipline, attentiveness, and accountability. This is a great way for them to step up and earn their keep as an active stakeholder in their success.
I personally sought out the opportunity and played an active role in devising a program to help some of these PROMISE students hold to their commitment. As such, the Grounds Dept. had several participants this last Autumn who volunteered with various Grounds activities, and it was quite successful. I look forward to another batch of student volunteers this Spring!
My point is that I think we have the programs in place to meet our Affordability standards. Costs will inevitably continue to go up, and as such, there will be times when raising tuition is unavoidable. To combat this, we must play a more active role in advocating, developing, and/or participating in such community programs like PROMISE.
To pursue alternative sources of funding (lobbying, grants, etc.) in order to meet the College's financial needs without passing along too much of the costs to students.
ReplyDeleteWe have all heard how funding from the State is harder and harder to come by these days. We need to be creative and aggressive in terms of finding new ways to bring funds into the College (without putting the whole burden on the Foundation or the Grants office).