Alpena Community College starts new semester online
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ALPENA -- Most Alpena Community College students will begin the spring semester learning online when classes begin next week as the coronavirus continues to spread.
College President Don MacMaster said college officials made the decision, which isn't mandated by the governor or local health department.
"For most of our students, the first week of classes will be remote," MacMaster said. "For a handful of the programs that are very lab-intensive, classes will meet face-to-face starting on Monday."
MacMaster said those lab-intensive programs include utility technology, concrete technology, welding, manufacturing, nursing, and auto service.
In-person classes will resume on Jan. 18.
The majority of ACC students spent the last three weeks of the fall semester learning remotely and completed their final exams online.
MacMaster said this week is registration week. New students have until Thursday to enroll in classes that begin on Monday, while returning students can register online through Sunday night.
Although there's still time for students to register for spring classes, MacMaster said that, as of Wednesday morning, enrollment is down about 3% compared to the spring semester last year, before the pandemic began.
The college also saw a roughly 4% decrease in the number of students attending the college during the fall semester, MacMaster said.
MacMaster said the college budgeted for a 2% decrease and froze tuition for students "because it was the right thing to do."
He said freezing tuition helps those who are struggling find money to come to school.
He said some colleges are seeing as much as a 20% decrease in enrollment.
"I was looking at enrollment data from other schools -- there are 28 community colleges in Michigan -- and I don't know that any school is in positive territory in enrollment compared to last spring semester," he said.
MacMaster said he didn't know if enrollment would increase once the pandemic ends.
"It's a challenging time," he said. "Our financial situation is quite solid, and people are stepping up to the challenge."
Crystal Nelson can be reached at 989-358-5687 or cnelson@thealpenanews.com.