Harrison Campus Ribbon Cutting

Mid Michigan College invites you to tour the newly renovated Harrison Campus at a Ribbon Cutting Celebration 4pm-5:30pm Friday, February 14.

Mid’s newly renovated classroom building represents a $13M investment in the Harrison Campus to make Mid an inviting place for members of the community and provide a more student-friendly atmosphere. In addition to providing classroom, library, and student activity space for current students, the project provides adequate space to accommodate a 25% growth in future enrollments.

Newly renovated spaces include a campus store and café, student food pantry, veteran’s resource center, fitness center, and wellness areas. Updated electrical and mechanical systems position Mid to be one of the most energy-efficient community colleges in the State. The renovations are in their final phases, with many areas already in use.

“We have been saving for this project for a long time. The College’s reserve funds, a municipal bond, and a special allocation from the State have made the dream a reality,” explained Christine Hammond, Mid Michigan College President.

Compared to the other 28 community colleges in the State, Mid is the most dependent on tuition and fees for revenue, collects the lowest amount of property tax per fiscal year equated students, levies the second lowest millage, and operates with the fourth lowest expenditures per fiscal year equated students.

For many years, the College has relied on out-district revenue sources to maintain the Harrison Campus, and these renovations and infrastructure improvements move the campus closer to sustainability.

“Some community colleges have chosen to close their rural campus sites and consolidate operations.At Mid, we celebrate rural communities and recognize that education is essential to their survival and the important role Mid plays in providing access to educational opportunities,” noted Hammond.

In an effort to stabilize the College’s funding model, sustain campus locations, and expand community services, Mid Michigan College’s Board of Trustees, at its December 2019 meeting, authorized a millage proposal for an additional 0.6268 mills to appear on the March 2020 ballot.

If passed, the College’s total millage rate would increase to 1.85 mills for ten years. Revenue from this increase will be used for College operating purposes. Largely, it would fund advanced technology for students and academic programs, including for the health sciences and skilled trades areas.

A recent analysis by Economic Modeling Services, Inc., revealed that in 2018-19, Mid added $69.2M to the local service area economy.

• Mid students, who stay and live in the area, spend $4.8M each year.
• Alumni add another $43.4M to local economies.

Mid graduates have higher paying jobs, pay more taxes, and rely less on public social services – giving our citizens a 12.5% annual rate of return on their investment in educating a Mid student.

“Everyone is always welcome at Mid but I especially hope that many will join Representative Jason Wentworth, community leaders, members of our Board, and the Mid team for the Ribbon Cutting Celebration,” shared Hammond.

Attendees can tour the newly renovated Harrison Campus, newly constructed Poet Family Outdoor Education Center, and existing Center for Medical Imaging Studies and Technical Education Center facilities.

For more information about the Ribbon Cutting Celebration contact Amy Lince, Executive Assistant to the President and Board of Trustees, at alince@midmich.edu or (989) 386-6601.