MONROE, Mich. -- Monroe County Community College’s credit enrollment has increased by 11.2 percent, which is the second-highest increase among the 28 community colleges in Michigan, Dr. Scott Behrens, vice president for enrollment management and student success, has announced.
This Fall Semester, 2,570 students are attending MCCC, up 278 compared to one year ago.
Classes began Aug. 25.
"The work behind the scenes has been incredible, and we are grateful for the opportunities offered by the state’s Frontliner and Reconnect programs – those have made a critical difference," said Dr. Kojo Quartey, president. “Even with the state and the nation still battling COVID-19, we are very glad to see that students are persevering toward their higher education and career goals and have selected MCCC for that journey.”
Through Michigan Reconnect, students who are age 25 and up can apply to attend MCCC tuition-free to earn an associate degree or Pell Grant-eligible skill certificate. Futures for Frontliners is a program that allowed those who worked in essential industries during the COVID-19 pandemic from April 1-June 30, 2020 to apply by the end of 2020 for funding to attend MCCC tuition-free.
“It’s not surprising to us to see these increases this semester,” said Behrens. “Our staff, faculty and partners in the community have worked very hard to make sure area residents are aware of the state’s Michigan Reconnect scholarship program. In fact, MCCC has one of the highest levels of participation in Michigan Reconnect in the state.”
MCCC was one of just three Michigan community colleges that experienced a double-digit enrollment increase, said Joe Verkennes, director of marketing and communications.
In addition to the increase in headcount, MCCC experienced a 7 percent increase in the number of credit hours students are taking during the Fall Semester. This is the third-largest percentage increase in credit hours in the state, Verkennes said.
The college has been extremely flexible with its class offerings to best serve students trying to navigate challenging circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Dr. Grace Yackee, vice president of instruction.
“For Fall Semester, we have about half of our class sessions including at least some component of in-person learning – with mandatory masking in classrooms and labs – while the remainder of classes are online,” Yackee said.
About Monroe County Community College
Founded in 1964, Monroe County Community College is a public, two-year institution supported by tax monies from Monroe County, educational funds from the State of Michigan and student tuition. The college’s mission is to enrich lives in our community by providing opportunity through student-focused, affordable, quality higher education and other learning experiences. The Main Campus is located at 1555 South Raisinville Road, Monroe, Mich., 48161, with easy access to Toledo and Detroit. The Whitman Center is located in Temperance, Mich., 48182, near the Ohio-Michigan Border. Detailed information about MCCC is available at www.monroeccc.edu