Lansing - Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced Monday that she plans to create a commission focused on increasing the amount of college graduates in Michigan.

The Commission on Higher Education and Economic Growth would work to double the amount of college graduates in the state over the next 10 years, Granholm said. It also hopes to ensure that students possess the skills to qualify in the fastest growing job fields - those involving science and technology.

Less than 22 percent of Michigan adults have a post-secondary degree, putting Michigan in the bottom third of all states, she said.

"Michigan is not a bottom-tier state," Granholm said. "The only way Michigan can compete is to have a higher educated workforce."

The governor added that the current college graduation rate in the state is 45 percent, which is unacceptable if Michigan wants to attract job providers. In order to spur greater enrollment rates, Granholm said children need to view college education as a necessity.

"We must create an expectation that every child in the state will go to college," she said. "They must believe that the question is not whether they go to college, but where they go to college.

"We want to be the smartest in the country."

Lt. Gov. John Cherry, whom Granholm appointed as the head of the commission, said the committee will be complete by the beginning of June and will be composed of state leaders representing a variety of areas.

"Ultimately, Michigan has to significantly increase its education capital," Cherry said. "If an individual wants to have a meaningful career, they now have to have a post-secondary experience.

"This is an effort to turn this ship around."

The creation of the commission is the latest of Granholm's efforts concerning higher education.

In her State of the State address in January, Granholm extended a deal that promises lower state-funding cuts and no further reductions in fiscal year 2004-05 if Michigan universities promise to keep tuition at the rate of inflation, currently 2.4 percent.

Under the agreement, Granholm will reduce the originally proposed higher education cuts from 5 percent to 2 percent.

MSU was the first of Michigan's 15 public universities to accept the bargain. So far, six of the schools are part of the pledge.

Steve Webster, MSU's vice president of governmental affairs, said the university is very interested in Granholm's plan.

"So many of our students come from Michigan, so many of our graduates become leaders in Michigan," he said. "Whatever methods this may mean - and it may mean a hundred things - we want to work with the governor to make this happen."

Granholm said it is likely there would be some incentives involved in increasing college enrollment, but did not specify what they might be.

"There are many mechanisms to help students go to college," Granholm said, commenting on student loans already available. "Many of us who went to college and came out with loans to pay are better off, even with the loans."

Dirk VanderHart can be reached at vande227@msu.edu.