Maine Community College System tells committee it has expanded training, early‑college participation
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Summary
Maine Community College System President David Daigler told the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee that the system has doubled early‑college participation, expanded short‑term workforce training with major Harold Alfond Foundation grants, and continues to provide student supports; the committee unanimously accepted the GAE report.
David Daigler, president of the Maine Community College System, presented the Government Evaluation Act report to the Legislature’s Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, saying the system remains mission‑focused on workforce development and upward mobility even as enrollment and program mix have changed. Daigler said the system serves primarily Mainers (about 96 percent) across seven colleges (nine campuses), with a full‑time tuition he cited as $4,156.
Daigler described substantial growth in early‑college participation and workforce training. He told the committee the system now serves nearly 6,000 early‑college students (up from roughly 3,000 in the earlier period covered by the evaluation) and outlined a three‑tier employer compact model for short‑term and incumbent‑worker training. He said three Harold Alfond Foundation grants “taken in total … accumulate to almost $100,000,000,” and that a single recent grant was $75,000,000; he described year‑one training projections in the thousands and a 10‑year target of training roughly 100,000 people in Maine’s workforce.
On student outcomes and supports, Daigler said transfer rates to universities have increased and early‑college and free‑college students show persistence and completion rates ‘‘on par’’ with other students; he pledged to provide longitudinal completion data at the committee’s request. He also described student supports such as campus food pantries and counseling, and partnerships with adult education to deliver English‑language‑learner services.
After discussion and questions from committee members about completion rates, company partnerships and program design, the committee voted to accept the GAE report and stated that the Maine Community College System is operating within its statutory authority; the acceptance motion passed unanimously with nine members present. Committee staff said follow‑up materials (completion data and other longitudinal measures) will be provided to the committee.
