By Brynna Henika, photojournalist.
The president won’t be the only one voted into office on Nov. 8. Three open seats on the Delta College Board of Trustees will also be decided. Delta’s Chapter of the American Association of University Professors hosted a Trustee Forum on Oct. 17 showcasing the candidates for each county.
Robert Emrich, who will be running for his fifth term representing Saginaw County, was the first speaker of the evening. He discussed how Delta has impacted each of its students and how his main goals are increasing student enrollment and the success of graduation.
Joshua Mackinnon and Mary Lou Benecke are the two candidates representing Bay County. According to Mackinnon, compared to other institutions, Delta continues to share the closest connection with local high schools.
“There is so much disconnect between high school and community college… I don’t see that here at Delta College,” says Mackinnon.
Though he adds that there is room for growth in this area and that, if elected, he would like to be there to see that achieved.
Benecke, who has been a community volunteer with Delta since 2013, finds that the engagement within the community is extremely important for our area. Benecke says she is also goal-oriented and would like to be with Delta as the school obtains its’ goals for success.
Andre Buckley, the Midland County candidate, has been in many different positions throughout our state, and has now been a resident of Midland for the past five years. He says he is astounded by the growth the city has undergone in the last 20 years.
“I enjoy the opportunities to go elsewhere, but was always called back to home,” says Buckley.
Buckley feels that Delta College is a great school that is often overlooked by high school students. If elected he wants to fix this problem so that Delta will increase in enrollment and become one of the top choices for future generations.
“Delta College is a jewel that needs to continue to be polished, and this institution should be considered a great first choice,” Buckley adds.
The forum, moderated by Professor Barbara Handley-Miller, addressed issues such as the prospect of free community college and the transferability of Delta’s credits.
Emrich was the most vocal and opposed of the candidates to the idea of free community college, asking where the funding would be found to do this, and what happens when a student fails to succeed. Emrich’s fellow candidates agreed with his statements.
It was also noted that Delta credits transfer to many schools, but Saginaw Valley State University takes few of Delta’s credits, or places many of them as an elective.
“Our board has been hard at work trying to fix this,” says Michael Rowley, Chair of Delta’s Board of Trustees. Rowley also adds that Saginaw Valley refuses to budge on this form of change for potential students. The candidates expressed concern that this is one of the many reasons students overlook the option of community college.
There are currently three open seats for the Board of Trustees. Each candidate elected will serve a six year term, representing Bay, Saginaw or Midland county. The upcoming six year term, according to Delta’s website, begins Jan 1, 2017. Voting for these positions takes place on Nov. 8, and residents of all three counties are eligible to vote for all three chair positions.
