# Summer conference offers tips on AI, millage strategies, and more - The Alpena News - *Источник: The Alpena News -* *Дата: 2026-08-01* *Язык: en* **Кратко:** Trending Every July presidents and trustees from Michigan's 28 community colleges and three tribal schools come together for a summer conference. This year the event was held at Mission Point on Mackinac Island. Trending Every July presidents and trustees from Michigan's 28 community colleges and three tribal schools come together for a summer conference. This year the event was held at Mission Point on Mackinac Island. Organized by the Michigan Community College Association, the advocacy group based in Lansing representing community colleges and tribal schools statewide, the conference brought thought leaders and community college leadership together to address some of the challenges we face today. Below are three examples. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Sharon Gai, author and AI expert, spoke to the group in a presentation entitled: How to Do More With Less: Future Proofing in the Age of AI. Gai prefaced her comments by noting that as artificial intelligence systems become capable of handling longer and more complex tasks once performed by people, the workforce is changing quickly. For community colleges preparing the next generation of workforce-ready talent, the question is not whether AI will reshape work, but how educators prepare students and communities to thrive in an economy increasingly shaped by automation and intelligent systems. Gai suggested a bee-beekeeper analogy to cultivate an AI-adaptable mindset. She noted that AI has already begun rendering obsolete many mundane repetitive workplace tasks such as writing and submitting mass emails or similar correspondence, checking financial spreadsheets for errors, or reviewing massive documents or multiple databases for salient facts or themes to name just a few. Using her analogy, for decades this work was done by "bees," and was integral to maintaining a well-managed workplace. Gai said the future workplace will increasingly be directed by those adept in using AI platforms to complete these non-intuitive tasks, freeing up mental capacity to do uniquely human endeavors such as strategic planning or collaborative work with staff. She referred to these new AI directors as "beekeepers." The challenge for community college educators will be to navigate this disruptive technology for the benefit of students who come to the classroom already possessing some degree of AI know-how, without forgoing instruction in the critical thinking and writing skills that form the basis of an educated citizenry. More than ever, she pointed out, we'll need educated beekeepers. Strategies for Passing a millage vote Former state legislator Al Pscholka, current Vice-President for Enrollment, Marketing, and Government Relations at Lake Michigan College, led this discussion entitled: "Winning the Vote Before It's Cast: A Strategic Guide to Community College Millage Campaigns." Local tax capture, also known as millage, varies by community college both in terms of the size of tax capture district and its proportion of the overall budget. At ACC the current rate approved by Alpena County voters in the 2018 election is 2.4687 mills in the County and 2.4806 mills in the City of Alpena. Of ACC's $18,554,379 FY27 budget, approved by the Board of Trustees in June 2026, 19.7 percent of the general operating budget is comprised of millage revenue, or $3,655,212. Millage is a significant piece. Vice-President Pscholka emphasized five main points in his presentation: · Identify your yes voters. Reach out to them early and often through traditional media, social media, and personal outreach. · Maintain a consistent, accurate, positive message of institutional accomplishments to all voters. · Deploy students and staff including Trustees and Foundation board members in relating compelling stories that communicate institutional value to voters. · Don't waste time, resources, or institutional goodwill arguing with no voters. · Share a vision for the future of the College that inspires taxpayers. College officials will next seek a millage renewal from the voters of Alpena County and the City of Alpena in 2028. Board Governance Jackson College President Dr. Dan Phelan presented on Policy Governance, a formal set of guidelines and rules that defines decision-making, accountability, and management oversight within an organization. Every Michigan community college, including ACC, has an elected 7-member governing board tasked with oversight of the President and the College. Some models, such as the Carver Model, from which Policy Governance derives, requires the Board to define organization ends (results to be achieved) and empowers the CEO or President to achieve those ends. In short, the Board governs. Management manages. If management fails to manage, the Board is tasked with replacing the CEO. According to the Carver Model, a Board only has two jobs: approve the budget and hire and fire the President. The Carver Model seeks to avoid common problems associated with non-profit Boards, namely: · Meetings drift into operational details · Board members become too involved in operational details · Authority is fragmented · Strategic clarity is inconsistent · Performance evaluation is subjective · The president receives mixed or conflicting directions When Boards and the Presidents they employ lose track of which lane they're in, problems often metastasize and progress grinds to a halt. ACC is blessed with an experienced Board that speaks with one voice and supports the management responsibility of the President while holding him accountable. Their collective wisdom and restraint are a key part of the success the College has enjoyed over the past decade. Phelan made this point at the end of his presentation: "As leaders we're here for only a brief moment in time to impact students and the communities we serve. Let's not waste time on governance dysfunction." Friday morning I headed home, riding the Shepler ferry across the majestic Straits to St. Ignace, the mighty span of the Bridge to the left and a strong breeze over the open water fresh in my face. My mind began to run, turning toward what we can do next at the College. I couldn't wait to get started. [Оригинал](https://www.thealpenanews.com/opinion/editorials-and-columns/2026/08/summer-conference-offers-tips-on-ai-millage-strategies-and-more/)