THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

[♪♪] CONNECTING MARYLANDERS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT, THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: WELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE".

JUST AHEAD ON OUR PROGRAM THIS WEEK THETATE SUPREME COURT SETTLEDS THE REDISTRICTING BATTLE AND WITH HEADWINDSES FACING COLLEGES HOW IS YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE FARING?

PAINFUL MEMORIES THE YEARS HAVE PASSED BUT THE MEMORIES OF 9/11 HAVE NOT DIMMED AS NANCY YAMADA REPORTS.

>> YOUR PEOPLE SCREAMING THEY HIT THE PENTAGON, THEY HIT THE PENTAGON AND I SEE SMOKE I TURNED ON AND SEE IN THE SKY ACROSS THE POTOMAC RIVER.

>> AFTER HEARING THE CHAOS ON POLICE SCANNERS THE REPORTER ESTIMATES HE ARRIVED AT THE PENTAGON 5 TO 6 MINUTES AFTER THE PLANE STRUCK ON 9/11.

>> WE HAD A MIDDLE SECTION OF THE PENTAGON COLLAPSE FROM THE AMOUNT OF FIRE AND DESTRUCTION.

THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF DAMAGE HERE IT JUST COLLAPSED.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE INSIDE.

YOU HEARD ONE OF THE PEOPLE INSIDE TALK TO US AND SAID THIS E RING OF THE PENTAGON HAS SENIOR OFFICIALS IF SOMEBODY WAS PLANNING SOMETHING THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE PLACE TO GET SENIOR OFFICIALS.

>> I BELIEVE WE WERE THE ONLY ONES ALIVE AT THAT SPOT ACROSS FROM THE IMPACT AND WE COULD SEE THE HORROR THAT WAS IN FRONT OF US.

>> ANY WORD ON CASUALTIES?

OTHER THAN SEEING THE TWO PEOPLE WE SAW WHO HAD SERIOUS BURNS I CAN'T CONFIRM OTHERS THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON PEOPLE BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS INSIDE.

CERTAIN ANYBODY IN THE OFFICES BY THE WINDOWS, YOU HAVE TO BE VERY, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT RIGHT NOW.

>> BURN VICTIMS WERE BEING BROUGHT OUT OF THE PENTAGON, CARRYING ONE OF THOSE VICTIMS, HELPING TO CARRY ONE OF THE VICTIMS WE DIDN'T REALIZE WAS DEFENSE SECRETARY DONALD RUMS FELT.

>> JOURNALISTS ON THE GROUND WERE THE EYES AND EARS FOR AMERICANS TRYING TO GET THE LATEST INFORMATION AND COMPREHEND THE DEADLIEST TERRORIST ATTACK IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY.

NOW RETIRED PHOTOGRAPHER GREG RECALLS... >> IT'S ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WHERE YOU ARE PROCESSING SO MUCH INFORMATION SIMULTANEOUSLY AS YOU LOOK AROUND, SHOULD YOU GET OUT AND START SHOOTING VIDEO?

DO YOU TRY TO GET TO THE PLACE WHERE YOU CAN PARK?

DO YOU TRY TO GET ON THE AIR AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE?

>> AMID AMIDSTED CHAOS.

>> MILLION AREA AND UNIFORMED POLICE OFFICERS IN THAT PENTAGON AREA, KEPT TELLING EVERYONE THAT THEY HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE TO THE SKY AND THEY'VE GOT TO BE WILLING TO TAKE COVER AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT THESE PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW HOW MANY OTHER PLANES WERE INVOLVED OR OR AATTACK MAY OCCUR COULD SOMEBODY HAVE A CAR BOTTOM.

IT WAS ORGANIZED CONFUSION.

>> FEAR TOOK A BACKSEAT TO THEIR MISSION.

>> I HAD A JOB TO DO AND I NEEDED TO DO IT CALMLY.

>> MOST OF THE FIRE HAS BEEN EXTINGUISHED.

AND STILL FROM WHAT I CAN SEE FIRE INSIDE NOW I HAVE A GAPING HOLE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE PENTAGON.

>> THEY FOCUSED ON PRIMARY DUTY TO REPORT.

>> WHAT IS IMPORTANT HERE, WHAT IS RIGHT, WHAT DO YOU KNOW FOR CERTAIN.

TO BE THERE WAS IMPORTANT TO TELL THE STORY AS HONESTLY, FACTUALLY, SUCCINCTLY, AND IN THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF SPEED WAS VERY IMPORTANT.

>> HIS EXPERIENCED AS A TRAINED VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER HELPED HIM TELL THE STORIES THAT LIVE ON 25 YEARS LATER MANY ON HIS WEBSITE WHERE HE SHOWCASES FIRE, EMS AND 911 DISPATCH STORIES HE BELIEVES THE STORIES OF THE TRUE HEROS MUST BE REMEMBERED, SHARED AND PASSED ON.

>> THEY PUT THEIR OWN SAFETY ASIDE.

THEY PUT THE THOUGHTS OF THEIR OWN FAMILIES WE SAW THE ACTIONS IN NEW YORK AND AT THE PENTAGON PEOPLE DID THE SAME THING.

THE PEOPLE WHO PASS ON THOSE STORIES ARE LEAVING INFORMATION THAT WILL BE USEFUL AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE SACRIFICES THAT WERE MADE THEN AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOSE PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES WHO ARE WILLING TO DO THAT.

>> I'M NANCY YAMADA STORE "STATE CIRCLE".

[♪♪] [♪♪] >> Jeff: WELL, HIGH DRAMA AT THE HIGH COURT WE ARE JOINED BY MARYLAND MATTERS REPORTER BRYAN SEARS.

SIR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: SO SET THE STAGE THE STATE LEGISLATURE CAME IN FOR A SPECIAL SESSION IN AUGUST BASICALLY REMOVE A ROADBLOCK IN THE STATE TOQUES THAT MIGHT HAVE MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO REDRAW THE STATE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS IN A WAY THAT WOULD RESULT IN A PURELY DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.

SO THEN WHAT HAPPENED?

>> SO ALMOST IMMEDIATELY WITHIN A DAY OR TWO AFTER THAT BILL GOT RUSHED THROUGH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN A TWO-DAY SPECIAL SESSION, WE STARTED SEEING COURT CHALLENGES POP-UP.

ONE IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY AND ANOTHER ONE IN DORCHESTER COUNTY.

BOTH LOOKING AT SOME SIMILAR THINGS.

THE DORCHESTER COUNTY ONE EMPHASIZED A PARTICULAR NUANCE IN THE LAW FOCUSING ON THE MARYLAND DECLARATION OF RIGHTS AND CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THIS BILL REMOVES PROTECTIONS FROM VOTERS.

AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THE TWO JUDGES IN THE CASE, BOTH SORT OF FOUND SIMILARLY.

>> Jeff: SO THAT WAS APPEALED TO WHAT IS CALLED THE STATE SUPREME COURT.

AND THAT WENT THE DEMOCRAT'S WAY?

MORE OR LESS?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING IF YOU READ THE OPINION CLOSELY IT IS NOT THE FULL THROATED VICTORY THAT DEMOCRATS IF YOU WERE WATCHING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, DEMOCRATS WERE RUSHING TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO DECLARE SORT OF THIS OVERWHELMING VICTORY.

BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THE COURT DECISION SAYS.

WHAT THE MAJORITY OPINION FOUND WAS THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS AND WHILE MOST OF THE RULING FROM THE TWO COURTS, THEY SET ASIDE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DID FIND WERE CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE QUESTION AND ITS VAGUENESS AND THAT IT DIDN'T PROPERLY SORT OF INFORM VOTERS OF INTENTIONALLY, I THINK THEY USED THE WORD MISLEADING.

IT DIDN'T GIVE VOTERS ENOUGH INFORMATION.

SOMETHING THAT BOTH JUDGES BOTH FOUND SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH.

WHAT THE COURT HIGH COURT DECIDED TO DO THOUGH WAS THEY TOOK IT UPON THEMSELVES TO CHANGE THE QUESTION AND IT'S INACCURATE TO SAY THEY REWROTE THE QUESTION.

THEY TOOK A PART OF THE EXISTING BILL AND SUBSTITUTED THAT FOR THE QUESTION.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THE DISSENTING OPINION TOOK ISSUE WITH THAT BOTH IN TERMS OF WHETHER OR NOT THE COURT HAD THE ABILITY TO DO IT ITSELF AND ALSO SAID LOOK, THE DEMOCRATIC SUPER MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE TOOK IT UPON THEMSELVES TO EXERCISE THEIR PREROGATIVE TO PASS THE BILL AND WRITE THE QUESTION AND THEY GOT IT WRONG SO THEY SHOULD BEAR THE JEANSES OF THIS AND THE COURT SHOULD STRIKE DOWN THE QUESTION AND SEND IT BACK TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND SAY TRY AGAIN LATER.

>> Jeff: TO MY EYE THE LANGUAGE THAT THE STATE SUPREME COURT HAS NOW PUT ON THE BALLOT IS JUST AS OPAQUE AS THE LANGUAGE THAT THEY REPLACED IN THE FULL TEXT IS AVAILABLE ON THE MARYLAND MATTERS WEBSITE, OF COURSE.

SO THEY DIDN'T WANT TO JUST WHOLESALE REWRITE THE THING?

>> YEAH, THEY DIDN'T.

AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU I'M NOT SURE THEY HAD TIME TO DO IT.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE TIMING OF THESE HEARINGS, ALL OF THIS STUFF IS WORKING THROUGH CIRCUIT COURT AND LITERALLY LANDS IN THE LAPS OF THE JUSTICES IN THE MARYLAND SUPREME COURT WITH DAYS BEFORE THE SEPTEMBER 5TH DEADLINE THE HEARING WAS HELD ON SEPTEMBER 5TH IN THE MORNING AND THEY WERE LOOKING AT A KEY DEADLINE FOR ELECTIONS OFFICIALS TO GET THE BALLOT OUT THE DOOR TO HIT FEDERALLY REQUIRED DEADLINES FOR OVERSEAS MAILINGS.

SO THERE WASN'T A LOT OF TIME TO WORRIED SMITH THIS.

WORD SMITH THIS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE QUESTIONS AND ONE OF THE REASONS I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO PUT THE TWO QUESTIONS SIDE-BY-SIDE IS BECAUSE THERE ARE SUBTLE CHANGES AND IF YOU HAD A LAWYER SITTING NEXT TO ME THEY WOULD TELL YOU MAYBE THE CHANGES MADE A DIFFERENCE.

I WOULD TELL YOU THAT THE JUSTICE GOULD FELT THAT THOSE CHANGES MADE NO DIFFERENCE AND THAT THE QUESTION IS JUST AS OPAQUE AND MISLEADING AS THE ORIGINAL.

>> >> Jeff: LET'S DO THIS, USING YOUR EXPERTISE AS A DESCRIBE AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE VOTING PUBLIC LET'S SEE IF WE CAN CONCISELY EXPLAIN WHAT THEY ARE BEING ASKED TO VOTE FOR IN THIS BALLOT YES.

WHAT WILL A YES VOTE ON QUESTION 3 DO?

>> SO A YES VOTE WILL ESSENTIALLY OVERRIDE A TWOOT 2022 IN A CASE, IN THAT CASE, SHE FOUND THAT THE MARYLAND CONSTITUTION REQUIRED CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS TO ADHERE TO A COMPACT AND CONTIGUOUS STANDARD THAT PREVIOUSLY HAD ONLY APPLIED TO STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS.

IT'S NOT CONSIDERED A PRESS DEN SHALL RULING BUT IT WAS ENOUGH THAT WHEN DEMOCRATS CAME IN EARLIER THIS YEAR AND TRIEDED TO PASS REDISTRICTING IN MID-CYCLE IT WAS ENOUGH OF A CONCERN THAT BILL FERGUSON POINTED TO THAT AND SAID WE CAN'T DO THIS BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO GET JAMMED UP IN COURT.

THIS ELIMINATES THAT.

IT ESSENTIALLY SAYS THERE ARE ALMOST NO STANDARDS IN MODERN FOR REDRAWING CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS AND ELIMINATES THE ABILITY OF ANY CHALLENGES IN STATE COURT.

WHICH MEANS THAT WITH UNFETTERED ABILITY TO DRAW DISTRICT.

THE DISTRICTS COULD LOOK LIKE ANYTHING AND NO ABILITY TO GO TO COURT AND CHALLENGE THEM.

>> Jeff: SO THE BALLOT LANGUAGE COULD SAY THIS REMOVES LIMITATIONS IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION ON THE LEGISLATURE'S ABILITY TO DRAW THE LINES FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRIBUTES ONLY FEDERAL LIMITATIONS IF ANY, WOULD APPLY?

>> AND THERE ARE VERY FEW FEDERAL LIMITATIONS AS WE WELL KNOW AND HAVE SEEN THEM NOT ONLY WITH THE CURRENT SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES BUT WITH PAST SUPREME COURTS.

>> Jeff: HOW MUCH OF A FIGHT ARE REPUBLICANS ABLE TO PUT UP OVER THIS BALLOT QUESTION?

BALLOT QUESTIONS USUALLY PASS UNLESS THERE IS A BIG CAMPAIGN AGAINST IT.

ANY INDICATIONS OF AN ENORMOUS CAMPAIGN BEING ORGANIZED?

>> THERE ARE INDICATIONS OF A CAMPAIGN BEING ORGANIZED AND THE SIZE OF THAT CAMPAIGN REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

SO I'M NOT SURE I WANT TO CHARACTERIZE IT JUST NOW.

BUT THERE ARE ON BOTH SIDES THERE ARE BALLOT QUESTION COMMITTEES THAT ARE SETUP.

ONE THAT IS SETUP TO VOTE FOR VOTE YES AND ANOTHER THAT IS BEING RUN ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OBVIOUSLY TO VOTE NO ON THIS.

WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM FOR THIS ON BOTH SIDES REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE SOME OUTSIDE MONEY ESPECIALLY FOR THE VOTE YES GROUP.

WHETHER OR NOT NATIONAL REPUBLICANS COME IN FROM OUTSIDE AND START PUMPING MONEY INTO THIS REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

AND AT THAT POINT, WE'LL REALLY GET A SENSE OF WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN CHARACTERIZE THAT AS A MASSIVE OPPOSITION OR NOT.

BUT THEY ARE SETTING THE TABLE TO DO SOME KIND OF AN OPPOSITION CAMPAIGN.

>> Jeff: YOU CAN READ BRYAN SEARS' REPORTING AT MARYLAND MATTERS.ORG.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, THANK YOU.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: NOW IT'S BACK TO SCHOOL TIME FOR COLLEGES AS WELL AS K-12 SCHOOLS.

WE CAUGHT UP WITH Dr.

BRAD PHILLIPS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

>> COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE A UNIQUE POST-SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND FOR SURE.

WE HAVE 16 COMMUNITY COLLEGES THAT SPAN ACROSS THE ENTIRETY OF THE STATE.

A LOT OF COLLEGES SUPPORT OTHER COUNTIES SUPPORT THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

HOWEVER WE DO HAVE THREE IN PARTICULAR, THAT ACTUALLY HAVE A SERVICE AREA THAT IS MORE THAN ONE COUNTY, CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE HAS FIVE COUNTY IT IS SERVES ON THE EASTERN SHORE AND WARWICK COLLEGE THAT HAS THREE AND THE COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN MARYLAND THAT SERVES THREE COUNTIES AS WELL.

OVERALL MOST OF OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THEY ARE LOCAL AND REGIONAL ECONOMIES ARE THRIVING.

THAT THEY ARE PRODUCING THE LEVEL OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT LOCAL BUSINESSES NEED, REGIONALLY AS WELL.

AND THAT LOOKS DIFFERENT ACROSS THE STATE AND THAT IS THE BEAUTY OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

WE CAN HANDLE STATE ISSUES WE ARE ATTUNED TO WHAT OUR LOCALS NEED AS WELL.

>> Jeff: HOW MUCH OF IT IS THE PURSUIT OF AN ACADEMIC DEGREE VERSUS WORKPLACE TRAINING, OTHER KINDS OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES?

I KNOW AT LEAST ONE COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS BUILDING A NEW FACILITY FOR CERTAIN TRADES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE A CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE THAT IS ACTUALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF BUILDING OUT A FACILITY JUST THAT.

WE HAVE A COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN BALTIMORE COUNTY THAT HAS A WELDING TRAINING CENTER.

WE OPENED THE CENTER FOR SKILLED AND HANDS ON TRADES, AT ANNE ARUNDEL COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

WHAT YOU ARE FINDING IS THAT A LOT OF LEARNERS ARE SEEKING SOME TYPE OF CREDENTIAL BECAUSE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA WAS NOT ENOUGH AND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY NEED A TWO-YEAR DEGREE OR A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE.

AND WE HAVE FOUND AS MANY STUDENTS ARE ENROLLING IN WHAT WE CONSIDER CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES, AS THEY ARE IN OUR CREDIT PATHWAYS THAT LEAD TO TRANSFER OPPORTUNITIES AT OUR FOUR YEAR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS.

THE ONE THING YOU CAN CARRY ACROSS ALL PATHWAYS IS THAT THAT IS WHAT COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE ABOUT.

THEY ARE THE STATE'S PATHWAY FOR OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO UPSCALE, GET SKILLED, HAVE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW JOB EXPERIENCES.

THAT ALL CAN BE DONE WITHOUT YOUR TRADITIONAL SORT OF TWO-YEAR, FOUR-YEAR PATHWAY ANYMORE.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS DUAL ENROLLMENT ABOUT?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

WE HAVE BEEN DOING DUAL ENROLLMENT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

HOWEVER THE BLUE PROHIBIT DIDN'T EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND THE WITH PASSAGE OF THE BLUEPRINT, I THINK ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING ASPECTS OF THAT IF YOU WERE CONSIDERED COLLEGE AND CAREER READY BY THE END OF 10TH GRADE YOU WOULD HAVE AN 0 TO TAKE AT NO COST A COLLEGE COURSE AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

IT COULD BE FOR CREDIT.

CONTINUING EDUCATION, IT COULD BE APPRENTICESHIPS IT COULD BE DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

AND WE HAVE SEE AN OUTGROWTH IN THAT.

WHERE 97% OF STUDENTS ARE DUE ALI ENROLLED IN A COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

WE HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB WORKING WITH OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO FIND PATHWAYS TO ALLOW THAT OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND AND IT'S HELPED PEOPLE ON THE MARGINS THAT MAY NOT BE THINKING ABOUT COLLEGE HAVING A COURSE OR AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE WHAT THEY MIGHT LIKE HAS OPENED THE DOORS.

AND STUDENTS WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN DUAL ENROLLMENT HAVE A HIGHER SUCCESS OF COMPLETING WHATEVER THEIR ASPIRATIONS MAYBE.

>> Jeff: AND THAT IS A RELATIVELY NEW THINGS IT WAS ALWAYS POSSIBLE, BUT MAYBE FAIR TO SAY IT'S BEEN MORE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED BY LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS OVER THE LAST, SAY, DECADE?

>> YES.

WE'VE SEEN VARIOUS REGIONS ACROSS THE STATE HAVE PICKED UP ON THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

IT REALLY IS LOW COST, NO COST TO THE STUDENT OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO ADVANCE AND SOME OF ARE EARNING AN ASSOCIATIONS DEGREE AFTER THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.

IT'S A WIN.

WE'VE BEGIN TO STRUCTURE SORT OF PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS IN DEDICATED CAREER FIELDS.

TEACHER PREPARATION FOR EXAMPLE OR MAYBE ALLIED HEALTH FIELDS OR CYBERSECURITY AND ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY WE ARE DEALING WITH STATE-WIDE.

>> Jeff: WHERE ARE THE STUDENTS LEADING YOU?

IN OTHER WORDS WE KNOW WHAT PROGRAMS ARE IN FAVOR IN THE STATE CAPITAL AND LOCAL COUNTIES, BUT WHEN YOU SEE STUDENTS REGISTER FOR CLASSES WHERE ARE THEY DRIVING?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION AS WELL.

THERE IS NO ONE SINGLE ANSWER.

DEPENDING ON THE EMPLOYERS, MONTGOMERY COLLEGE HAS BUILT OUT THE BIOTECH INDUSTRY AND IT'S THRIVING STUDENTS ARE EASTBOUND GAUGING IN BIOSCIENCE.

WE SEE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE AS WELL.

WARWICK, COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN MARYLAND AND MAYBE CARROLL COMMUNITY COLLEGE, THEY ARE ALL LOOKING WAY INTO THE FUTURE AT POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS IN NEW TECHNOLOGIES.

AND THINKING ABOUT QUANTUM AND THINGS THAT ARE COMING AT US WHICH WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF AN A.I.

SORT OF LITERACY TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT IS BAKED INTO OUR COURSES.

KWANI TRUMP IS THE NEXT THING -- QUANTUM IS THE NEXT THING.

>> Jeff: I'M CURIOUS WHEN THE LEADERS OF YOUR MEMBER INSTITUTIONS GET TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT A.I.

WHAT DO THEY SEE CHANGING IN TERMS OF BOTH DELIVERING EDUCATION, AND ALSO PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THE WORKPLACE OF THE FUTURE, WHATEVER IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE?

>> RIGHT.

WE'RE REALLY ENGAGED IN TRYING TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT OUR STUDENTS AND EMPLOYERS REALIZE THAT A.I.

IS ANOTHER TOOL.

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY ONE THAT SHOULD REPLACE WORKERS IT IS ONE THAT CAN ENHANCE THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE WORKFORCE.

AND REALLY HAVING AN UNDERSTANDING HOW THAT HAPPENS AND HOW THAT CAN AID EMPLOYERS AND HOW IT CAN HELP STUDENTS AND LEARNERS IS GOING TO BE A BIG GOAL FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES AS WELL AS THE STATE LOOKING FORWARD WITH THE IMPACT OF A.I.

HAPPENING ACROSS THE STATE.

>> Jeff: COUPLE INDUSTRY BUZZWORDS, TO ASK ABOUT.

MICRO CREDENTIALS AND STACKABLE PROGRAMS.

ARE WE SEEING MORE OF THOSE?

AND WHAT ARE THEY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IS STUDENTS NONTRADITIONAL LEARNERS, PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING TO UPSCALE ARE LOOKING FOR A SET OF SPECIFIC SKILLS TO HELP THEM ADVANCE IN WHATEVER CAREER OPPORTUNITIES THEY ARE LOOKING FOR.

WHAT WE ARE BEING MINDFUL OF MAKING SURE THAT THOSE MICRO CREDENTIALS AND CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES ARE ALL LEADING TO COMPETENCIES AND OUTCOMES THAT CAN BE STACKABLE TOWARDS SOMETHING BIGGER.

MAYBE ASSOCIATIONS DEGREE.

WHICH WOULD LEAD TO AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFER TO A FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTION TO TAKE A BACHELOR'S PROGRAM AND LEAD TO A MASTERS.

MAKING SURE THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY EXPERIENCE AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE ARE BUILDING ON TOP OF THEMSELVES THAT IS THE GOAL.

>> Jeff: ANOTHER AREA OF FOCUS ON FOR THE WHOLE INDUSTRY IS PROVIDING SUPPORT TO STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY ON DEGREE FOCUSED PROGRAMS, MAKING SURE THAT ANY BARRIERS TO COMPLETING THE DEGREE ARE DEALT WITH AS BEST YOU CAN WHETHER IT'S FINANCIAL OR SOMETHING ELSE.

I DON'T WANT TO CALL IT HAND HOLDING, ENHANCED SUPPORT TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO TAKE EVERY POSSIBLE ADVANTAGE?

>> YOU KNOW WE'RE ABOUT A LITTLE OVER A DECADE INTO WHAT I CALL THE COMPLETION ERA.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE LEARNED IS THAT SUPPORTING STUDENTS MAKES ALL OF THE DIFFERENCE, PARTICULARLY IN UNDER RESOURCED POPULATIONS, STUDENTS THAT DIDN'T NECESSARILY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND GO DIRECTLY INTO COLLEGE BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T AFFORD IT OR NEEDED TO WORK TO HELP PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

WHAT WE'RE LEARNING IS THAT POPULATION MORE THAN EVER NEEDS SUPPORT.

NEEDS FINANCIAL HELP.

NEEDS TUTORS.

NEEDS ALL TYPES OF ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCES THAT HELP THEM MOVE TOWARDS COMPLETION.

AND THE THING ABOUT SUPPORT SERVICES, IS THEY ARE THEY HAVE THE BEST RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT.

BUT YET IN TIMES OF BUDGET CON STRANTDS THEY ARE HARD TO MAINTAIN.

AND FOR THE STATE TO MOVE FORWARD, I KNOW WE HAVE BUDGET ISSUES LOOKING AHEAD FOR THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

BUT I DO REALLY STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT HELPING THE STUDENTS THAT ARE ENROLLED IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES IS ONE OF THE BEST TOOLS THE STATE ACTUALLY HAS TO PROVIDE ECONOMIC GAINS AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE STATE, FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES, FOR THE STUDENTS WE SERVE.

SO BEING ABLE TO HAVE ADEQUATE STABLE, PREDICTABLE FUNDING TO HAVE THE SUPPORT SERVICES, JUST IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AT THIS TIME MORE THAN MOST.

>> Jeff: WELL, IT'S NOT TOO SOON TO LOOK AHEAD TO THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO BE THE TOP OF THE AGENDA FOR THE STATE'S COMMUNITY COLLEGES?

>> WELL, I KNOW THAT TIMES WHERE BUDGETS ARE TOUGH, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME LEVEL OF STABILITY IN FUNDING COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

WE REALLY DO SEE OURSELVES AS THE TICKET TO HELP MORE MARYLANDERS GET GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT, BEING ABLE TO HAVE A COST OF LIVING THAT PROVIDES FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND THE RETURN ON THAT INVESTMENT IS TREMENDOUS.

WHERE THE STATE HAS INVESTED A LOT IN PRE-K THROUGH 12TH GRADE RIGHTFULLY SO BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME COMMITMENT TO SOMETHING BEYOND A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA WHAT WE CALL THE MIDDLE SKILLS THAT ARE HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER IN MARYLAND'S ECONOMY THAT IS WHERE YOU CAN GET THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE WHERE YOU CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN AND IT'S DIRE TO THE STATE'S ECONOMY TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

>> Jeff: AND THAT IS "STATE CIRCLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

JOIN US EVER WEEK FOR THE LATEST ON MARYLAND'S POLITICAL STAGE.

REMEMBER YOU CAN SEE OUR RECENT PROGRAMS AT VIDEO.MPT.TV AND THROUGH THE FREE PBS APP VMENT WE CAN BE FOUND ON SOCIAL MEDIA AT MPT NEWS.

WE'RE BACK MONDAY WITH "DIRECT CONNECTION" AND YOUR CHANCE TO ASK THE EXPERTS.

THAT IS MONDAY EVENING LIVE AT 7:00 P.M.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANKS FOR WATCHING AND WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE MONDAY.

[♪♪]