Davenport College s main campus bustles in the historic Heritage Hills district here in Grand Rapids, just four blocks from downtown. We also have Davenport College campuses located in Kalamazoo, Lansing and several other sites. We are part of the Davenport Education System, which also includes Detroit College of Business and Great Lakes College. Davenport College traces its history back to 1866. Later, in 1920, M.E. Davenport pioneered programs of practical education and lent his name to our college.
Life Make A Contribution.
Now I shall turn to the topic of your Commission. Because of the surprising profile of the student body served by Michigan s independent colleges and universities, the financing of postsecondary education is a continuing struggle for our students and a constant concern of our colleges. We as independent colleges are actively engaged in institutional efforts to assist our students to supplement their Federal and State student financial aid. To place this sense of urgency in context, permit me first to share a snapshot profile of the more than 92,000 students attending all of Michigan s independent, nonprofit colleges and universities, compiled by our Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Michigan. To the surprise of some, Michigan s independent colleges and universities serve a constituency for whom affordability of college is a constant concern and who sacrifice mightily to choose an independent college.