College isn't for everybody. Some people make meaningful careers as construction workers, paraprofessionals and mothers and fathers. Yet, Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Lt. Gov. John Cherry seem to devalue their contributions to Michigan's society in comments about their new committee called The Commission on Higher Education and Economic Growth. "If an individual wants to have a meaningful career, they now have to have a post-secondary experience," Cherry said.

Granholm added that "the only way Michigan can compete is to have a higher educated workforce."

We applaud Granholm and Cherry for taking steps to increase higher education's availability by making it more affordable and encouraging college students to acquire a degree, but they must choose their words carefully so they don't sound limiting and condescending to those who do not attend college.

In all reality, a lot of people who have not graduated from college make very significant contributions to society and shouldn't feel any less valuable. It is short-sighted to think that one has to graduate from college in order to be smart and successful. Trades such as construction and manufacturing are important to Michigan's economy and employ many non-college graduates.

It is true that more and more jobs demand college degrees, but there are plenty careers that don't, and frankly, not everyone is cut out for college.

College should be reserved for those who truly have high academic aspirations and not for people who feel college is just the next step.

The governor's efforts to promote and enhance higher education have been done with good intentions.

She has made a deal to lower state funding cuts to higher education and promises that there will be no more reductions in the fiscal year of 2004-05 if universities keep tuition at the rate of inflation, 2.4 percent.

These are very favorable, however, in other efforts, such as the committee, officials need to be careful not to sound like the only valuable person in society is one with a college degree. The government has good intentions, but it needs to look holistically at Michiganians' contributions.