COMMUNITY COLLEGE BACCALAUREATE DEGREES

House Bill 5533

Sponsor:  Rep. Joel Sheltrown

Committee:  Education

Complete to 10-21-09

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5533 AS INTRODUCED 10-21-09

House Bill 5533 would amend the Community College Act to allow the board of trustees of a community college district to establish education programs and grant baccalaureate degrees in nursing, cement technology, maritime technology, or culinary arts.

The bill is tie-barred to House Bill 4837 (which, as introduced, re-defines the term "community college" to allow community colleges to grant baccalaureate degrees in nursing, cement technology, and culinary arts).  This means House Bill 5533 could not go into effect unless House Bill 4837 is also enacted into law.

MCL 389.121

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

In general, the bill would serve to increase operating costs of state community colleges that elect to offer the select baccalaureate programs.  A community college could incur costs for the salary and benefits of additional faculty (full-time and part-time) and support staff, as well as operating costs for administration, materials and supplies, travel, information technology, accreditation, and other support services.  A college could also incur costs for capital expenses related to equipment and facilities (increased capacity).  Some expenses would be non-recurring in nature, such as those related to equipment and facilities, while others would be recurring in nature (e.g. faculty salaries).1 

Funding for community colleges comprises three main funding sources:  property tax revenue, tuition, and state appropriations.  The costs of adding a baccalaureate program would be borne by some combination of those sources, or supplemented by other outside sources (grants, contributions, etc).  In general, upper division courses have a higher cost than lower division courses.  As such, costs could be partially offset through a stratified tuition plan that imposes higher tuition rates for upper division courses, as is the practice in many public universities.  The costs of expanding an existing associate's degree program into a baccalaureate program would vary by college, depending on its current capacity and the additional requirements (costs) imposed by expanding its program.2 

According to the state Board of Nursing, all 28 community colleges offer an associate's degree in nursing, while 20 colleges and universities (12 public universities and 8 private colleges and universities) offer a baccalaureate degree in nursing. 

Additionally, there are nine community colleges that offer an associate's degree in culinary arts, including Mott,Grand Rapids, Henry Ford,Macomb, Mid-Michigan,Northwestern Michigan, Oakland, Schoolcraft, and Washtenaw, according to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).  The concrete technology program is said to apply toAlpenaCommunity College.  The Maritime Technology program is said to apply toNorthwestern Michigan College.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Mark Wolf

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.

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