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Partnerships with two Northern Michigan colleges will help students advance their careers
October 17, 2024
Students in Northern Michigan now have easier access to degrees from Grand Valley after two partnerships have been finalized with Kirtland Community College in Roscommon and Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City.
President Philomena V. Mantella applauded the leadership at the two colleges and said these partnerships benefit Michigan as students can advance their careers by earning bachelor's degrees, fueling the state's economy.
"We know Michigan needs more workers who hold bachelor's degrees," Mantella said. "Partnerships like these are the future of higher education and we are excited to collaborate with Kirtland Community College and Northwestern Michigan College to create pathways for students to achieve their career goals.”
GVSU, Kirtland Community College
Leaders at GVSU and Kirtland Community College celebrated their partnership October 16 to create seamless transfer pathways for students between the two institutions. Key programs include nursing, others are detailed below.
Kirtland President Gary Roberts said: “We are always willing to partner with our four-year colleagues to find better ways for students to seamlessly transfer between our institutions. This is a good example of how representatives of the two institutions have collaborated for the betterment of our students.”
Kara Van Dam, vice president and chief executive for GVSU Omni, said: “Our partnership with Kirtland Community College is rooted in a shared commitment to making higher education both affordable and accessible for students in Northern Michigan. By creating pathways that allow students to continue their education close to home, we are meeting their academic and financial needs and supporting the region's workforce demands.”
Looking to fall 2025, Kirtland’s partnership with GVSU will launch a Bachelor of Applied Science and a Bachelor of Business Administration program. These new degree offerings are designed to expand career opportunities for students by offering high-demand degrees that align with industry needs.
“Kirtland is very excited to develop these growing partnerships with Grand Valley State University,” said John Thiel, Kirtland’s dean of Arts and Sciences. “We pride ourselves in preparing our students for careers and transfer opportunities to four-year institutions, and our strengthened ties with GVSU will increase options for Kirtland students to transfer to a huge variety of exciting majors and career fields that require at least a bachelor's degree.”
Whitney Gurka is the program director for Kalkaska Memorial Health Center's Senior Life Solutions. She earned associate and bachelor's degrees in nursing, respectively, from Kirtland and GVSU. "This relationship between Kirtland and Grand Valley presents a great opportunity for future students looking to expand their education, as they can ensure that the classes they are taking locally will easily translate to their next degree," Gurka said.
For more information about GVSU programs at Kirtland Community College, contact GVSU Northern Michigan at nminfo@gvsu.edu.
Direct Connect assists students at NMC with transfer to GVSU
Grand Valley and Northwestern Michigan College created a partnership in late September aimed at supporting students and addressing the growing need for health care professionals in the region.
Through Direct Connect , students enroll in both GVSU and NMC courses during their third semester, allowing them to get a head start on their bachelor’s degree in allied health sciences while completing their associate degree. They then complete their junior and senior years entirely in Traverse City through GVSU.
Shannon Owen, GVSU's director of Northern Michigan programs, highlighted the program's accessibility. "Direct Connect creates a clear, streamlined pathway for NMC students to continue their education at GVSU."
Owen added that by completing the first half of their bachelor’s degree at NMC, students benefit from NMC’s tuition rates, making this a more affordable route to earning their degree.
Learn more about Omni from GVSU and the multiple pathways — certificate, badge and degree programs — offered to meet the needs of adult learners.
By Michele Coffill