The Eastern Academic Center, a regional campus operated by Kellogg Community College near Albion, is pleased to announce its largest fall enrollment ever.
For the first time in the EAC’s 11-year history, students are collectively taking more than 1,300 credit hours this semester. The growth is due in large part to a collaborative mission of providing educational opportunities that is shared by KCC, Albion Public Schools, Marshall Public Schools and the City of Albion.
“We thank and applaud our community partners in the Albion area who, by working so closely together, are opening doors for students who want and need a community college education that is accessible and affordable,” said Dr. Dennis Bona, president of KCC.
In addition to traditional college students who take classes at the EAC, many students from Albion Public Schools are dual-enrolled and complete KCC coursework in their own high school. Also, Marshall Public Schools operates its alternative high school at the EAC, where many of those students take college classes in the afternoons; the program is called the Opportunity School, which came about because of a generous grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Finally, KCC, the City of Albion and Albion Public Schools have collaborated to open the Crowell Elementary School facility to accommodate six KCC classes this semester.
“These innovative and flexible locations and programs provide the chance for students to take college classes even if cost or transportation is an issue,” said Dr. Colin McCaleb, director of the EAC. “KCC hopes to continue these innovative collaborations in the future in the interest of living up to W.K. Kellogg’s admonition that, ‘Education is for all who can benefit.'”
The EAC, which serves about 250 students each semester, opened in the fall of 2001 as a way to provide convenient education to community college students in eastern Calhoun County. The building, 14055 26 Mile Road, is in Sheridan Township between Albion and Marshall.
Pictured above is the Eastern Academic Center during the annual welcome back event for students held late last month.