Thank you to the Sun Journal for its broad coverage of higher education issues in Maine and for the endorsement of a yes vote on Question 6 on the Nov. 8 ballot.

At Central Maine Community College, we are proud to have emerged as the largest college in the Twin Cities, opening our year with over 2,100 students. We are committed to serving anyone in our community who wants to improve by coming to our college.

Our plan is to grow to 2,600 students by 2010. To accommodate this growth, we have begun the process of building a new residence hall that will be paid for by student room and board fees. In the long run, we will have to build at least one additional classroom-laboratory building.

But before we do that, we want to do everything we can to ensure that we are using the space we currently have as effectively as possible. Question 6 will provide $9 million for renovations to current buildings at 13 of Maine’s community college and university campuses.

If Question 6 passes, CMCC will use nearly three-quarters of a million dollars to preserve the public investment in our facilities. In addition to improving the heating and electrical systems of the college, we will upgrade laboratories, classrooms and a lecture hall with technology that will improve teaching and learning at our college.

As one of our student leaders says, “This money will help make CM a college as good as its students!”

Scott E. Knapp, president, Central Maine Community College, Auburn