Bay Mills Community College enrollment continues to increase

 

Oct. 7, 2019

BAY MILLS — Bay Mills Community College’s enrollment continues to increase, with the student count this fall reaching one of the highest points since the recession. BMCC is bucking a trend amongst community colleges — a trend of declining enrollment that nearly every higher educational institution in the country is struggling to overcome.

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BMCC’s administrators attribute the rise in enrollment to several factors, including expanded financial assistance, enrollment management efforts, world class student support services, state-of-the-art facilities, and high quality academic programs that continue to evolve to meet the needs of today’s students.

“All areas of our campus community have challenged themselves to study how their efforts impact enrollment and ultimately student success; we have worked collaboratively to improve the entire operation,” said Dr. Steve Yanni, enrollment management committee chair.

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To meet the demands of their enrollment, BMCC opened the Michael C. Parish Administration Center last fall. The 34,700 square foot facility houses classrooms, laboratories, faculty offices, and student meeting areas. Each classroom is equipped with computers and technology to meet the needs of both students and instructors. Whether you are looking to learn about 3-D printing technology or invasive species, the classrooms at BMCC are fully equipped to provide students with the tools to succeed.

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But BMCC’s success extends beyond that of the traditional classroom. Anyone who aspires to earn a degree from a distance can enroll in one of BMCC’s online degree programs. Currently there are 12 fully online programs. including bachelor’s, associate, and certificate programs.

“Our online experience mirrors that of the classroom in terms of content and individualized attention. We feel students should be getting the same education whether or not they choose to be in the classroom,” said Kendra Voris, director of distance learning. “During the last two years we have revitalized our offerings, ensuring that quality and accessibility are key and that each course is formatted to reflect an on campus environment. Students can expect the experience to be fluid as they move through their chosen program.”

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As a tribally controlled institution of higher education, BMCC also offers free tuition for individuals who are members of U.S. federally recognized tribes. The Board of Regents Tuition Award allows Native students to take courses on-campus or on-line without having to worry about the cost of earning their degree. For non-Native students, the tuition rate of $95/credit hour remains affordable. This fall, BMCC also began partnering with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians in WOCTEP- Waganakising Odawa Career and Technical Education Program, which provides financial support to both tribal and non-tribal members seeking to further their education. 

To learn more about the opportunities at BMCC, please visitwww.bmcc.edu.