February 08, 2024
Best Community Colleges: Schoolcraft
College (MI)
Schoolcraft College, located in
Livonia, Michigan, has a satellite campus in Garden City, Michigan. Schoolcraft
College celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2011.
Enrollment annually averages 30,000
students. The college awards certificates, associate degrees and post-associate
certificates.
Examples of degree-oriented academic
programs include Liberal Arts, Health, Fine Arts, Anthropology and Education.
Examples of certificate programs
include Fire Technology, Baking & Pastry Arts, Computer Graphics- 3D
Animation, and Sound Recording Technology.
Schoolcraft College, well known for
its culinary arts program, is headed by four certified master chefs. It has the
highest chef/student ratio of any culinary program in the U.S. The college
operates three dining venues as part of its culinary arts program.
The Transition Center supports
students and is home to the Women’s Resource Center, Adult Student Services,
Family Resources and Student Engagement Programs.
The Biomedical Technology Center
focuses on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and
genetics, robotics, information systems and nanotechnology (GRIN).
The 11,000 sq. ft. Schoolcraft
Fitness Center, with its state-of-the-art strength, cardio, free weight and
stretch equipment is free to credit students and available for membership for
non-credit students, faculty, community members and alumni.
The college’s Public Safety Training
Complex, opened in 2010, houses its public safety programs such as Criminal
Justice, Fire Technology, Correctional Science, Homeland Security,
Police/Fire/Academies and Public Safety in-Service.
Schoolcraft College has a strong
student activity presence. The MacGuffin, is a national literary magazine
published from Schoolcraft College and The Schoolcraft Connection, the school’s
award winning student newspaper continues to garner journalistic praise.
In 2009, the Women’s Basketball team
won their second NJCAA Region 12 District H Title.
To serve local families, the
school’s “Kids on Campus” program offers classes for children over the weekends
during the fall, winter, and spring semesters.
To serve local businesses and
industry, the college’s Business Development Center includes the Michigan Small
Business and Technology Development Center (MI-SBTDC), the Procurement
Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), and Workforce Training Solutions.
The college is a member of the
National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC).
Schoolcraft College ranked #49 in
the CNN Money listing of community colleges in 2012.
* * *
Based on their proven levels of
excellence, all of these community colleges have earned the privilege of your
consideration.
Still not sure which one to pick?
Here are five tips for choosing the best community college for you:
1. Does the community college have
an honors program? What are the academic requirements? Would you qualify?
Getting accepted into the honors programs at a community college will afford
you additional opportunities and increase your chances for successful
graduation and transfer.
2. Do you plan to transfer to a
four-year college or university? If so, call a few of the places you hope to
attend and find out how they perceive the community colleges on your list and
which colleges accept the most transfers from those community colleges. Ask
about any guaranteed transfers and “articulation agreements” that may be in
place.
3. Inquire about the specific
academic program you are interested in and compare the completion rates of that
program to the overall rates of the college. If there is a notable gap between
the two rates, ask why.
4. For optimal learning, do you
prefer a small campus with special counseling/coaching or a larger campus with
an expansive array of course options and educational opportunities? If needed,
ask about remedial courses and other support resources. Compare the colleges on
your short list to your personal needs.
5.
Research and compare the stats on the schools you are most interested in: the
college’s graduation rate,
transfer rate, “success” rankings based on various surveys.
