Macomb Community College is presenting a special breakfast panel discussion, Community Colleges – Refueling Individual Strength and Driving Economic Recovery, on Monday,
March 30, 7:30 – 9: 30 a.m., at the Macomb University Center, Macomb Center Campus, Clinton Township. All of the $40 entrance fee will be donated to the new Macomb Presidential Scholarship, which is being established to increase access to educational opportunities vital for individual success as well as community vibrancy.
“The breakfast panel provides a unique opportunity for individuals to personally play a role in transforming lives through educational opportunity, while at the same time taking part in an important dialogue,” said Dr. James Jacobs, president, Macomb Community College.
Against the backdrop of key recent events, their economic impact and the role community colleges can play in providing solutions for economic recovery, the discussion will focus on the critical function that community colleges play in preparing individuals for work in the knowledge economy, the importance of retraining incumbent and adult workers with new skills, and federal policy issues related to the development of community colleges as a national workforce development system.
The panel features:
• William D. Green, president and CEO of Accenture (global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company with clients in more than 120 companies). Green is also a community college alumnus and chair of the Education & Workforce Taskforce of the Business Roundtable, an association of chief executive of leading U.S. companies with more than $5 trillion in annual revenues and nearly 10 million employees, and focused on innovating and advocating to help expand economic opportunities for Americans.
• David Wessel, economics editor of the Wall Street Journal, who has reported extensively on workforce development and community colleges.
• James Jacobs, who assumed the presidency of Macomb Community College in July 2008 after 40 years with the college, specializing in the areas of occupational change and technology, suburban economic development, occupation education, and the retraining of displace workers and needs assessment of occupational programs.
• Mary Kramer, publisher of Crain’s Detroit Business, will moderate the panel.
For more information or to register to attend, call 586.445.7204.
The March 30 breakfast panel is a key feature of the inauguration of Jacobs as Macomb’s fifth president. While he officially assumed the presidency on July 1, 2008, the academic tradition of inauguration -– the institutional activities related to a presidential transition –- traditionally take place within the first year of the arrival of the new president. In recognition of these tough economic times and their impact on the community, Jacob’s inauguration is focusing on creating a unique opportunity to spotlight those issues that are both challenging education and dependent upon it for timely solutions.
Macomb Community College (www.macomb.edu) is one of the nation’s leading community colleges, providing learning experiences to more than 59,000 students annually. Macomb nationally ranks in the top two percent in the number of associate degrees awarded and as the largest grantor of associate degrees in Michigan. The college’s comprehensive educational programming includes pre-collegiate experiences, university transfer and career preparation programs, bachelor degree completion and graduate degree programs, workforce training, professional education and certification, and continuing education and enrichment opportunities.
Media contact:
Dan Heaton
586.445.7271
heatond@macomb.edu