TRAVERSE CITY -- Traverse City's community college likely will expand to house more programs and students.
Northwestern Michigan College trustees are expected to decide next week whether to buy property for program expansion. College officials remain tight-lipped about the property's size, location and cost.
"Until the board finalizes action ... I'm not sure what I could say about it," said Marguerite Cotto, college vice president.
Property purchase negotiations are kept confidential until completed, she said.
College trustees will consider the land purchase when they meet Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the main campus' Oleson Center. They previously discussed buying the property in a closed session on Jan. 15.
Paul Heaton, NMC spokesman, declined to say whether the property is in Grand Traverse County, if it has existing structures that will require renovations, or if it's vacant land that will require new construction.
Officials said a record student enrollment and rapidly growing programs underscore the need for more facilities. Many students are drawn to the new renewable energy certificates and degrees in wind, solar and geothermal energy production for residential and light commercial use, Cotto said.
"These are pushing all our facilities because they require more space -- laboratory space," she said.
Renewable energy classes are full and the college's overall student population is at 5,114, up from 4,483 last spring semester and 5,074 during the recently wrapped fall semester, said Jim Bensley, NMC's admissions director.
NMC's new freshwater studies program is full and information technology student numbers are up, too, Bensley said.
"And the nursing program continues to be very full. There is a waiting list," he said.
The ongoing economic downturn is driving much of the enrollment increases and college officials must react with more programs and options for students, said Doug Bishop, NMC trustee.
"That's what the role of the community college is. It's to respond to the needs of the students in the community," he said.
