(1) Recognizing the critical importance of education in strengthening Michigan’s workforce, each community college is encouraged to explore ways of increasing collaboration and cooperation with 4-year universities, particularly in the areas related to training, instruction, and program articulation.

  (2) Recognizing the central role of community colleges in responding to local employment needs and challenges, community colleges shall develop and continue efforts to collaborate with local employers and students to identify local employment needs and strategies to meet them.

  (3) Community colleges are encouraged to collaborate with each other on innovations to identify and meet local employment needs.

  (4) Community colleges are encouraged to work with universities to develop equivalency standards of core college courses and identify equivalent courses offered by postsecondary institutions.