Staff Writer
Having served on the Washtenaw Community County Board of Trustees since January 2001, Richard Landau has seen the college grow in ways that were unimaginable when he assumed his seat.
And while he is very proud on the accomplishments he has been a part of, Landau feels there is still much more to be done to improve the campus.
“I am excited about where we are as a college currently, but I think the future holds a variety of challenges,” Landau said. “I do believe the challenges in online education and the affordability of college are substantial challenges.”
Landau said that keeping tuition affordable is the biggest challenge facing the school, thanks in large part to the shrinking tax base and reduced funding from the state. Landau said that passing the buck to the students is always the last resort, but unfortunately for students, tuition keeps rising. Stopping that trend is important to him, he said.
“We need to make sure that our tuition structure is competitive and within reach for every student at the college,” Landau said.
As difficult as it will be to keep costs down, Landau points to his track record with the WCC Foundation, trying to find ways for students in need of funding.
Helping the college receive its 10-year accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission is Landau’s proudest accomplishment thus far at WCC, along with the accessibility of the school both in terms of navigating the campus and reaching out to new students.
