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ESCANABA -- A partnership between Bay College and Michigan State University (MSU) is creating hands-on learning opportunities for students interested in forestry and agriculture, with enrollment attracting both young adults and those returning to the classroom later in life.
Through the partnership, Bay College collaborates with the MSU Institute of Agricultural Technology (IAT) to offer dual-enrollment certificate and associate degree programs in Agricultural Operations and Forest Technology.
The MSU Forestry Innovation Center (FIC) -- a 1,745-acre research facility in Escanaba -- plays a critical role in developing students' skills, as the center hosts classes and labs to provide hands-on learning experiences for students in both MSU IAT programs.
The partnership was initially launched with the help of a $749,000 Higher Education Challenge grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Jesse Randall, director of the MSU FIC, explained the inception of the program:
"We interacted with the broad forest industry to set the curriculum and detail the hands-on skills that students in the program would need," Randall said. "It was clear that the students needed a place that offered classroom and field experience in close proximity to Bay College. The FIC met all the criteria..."
Jessica Van Slooten, dean of arts, sciences and teaching and learning at Bay College, highlighted the benefits of the partnership:
"From Bay’s perspective, this is a really great way that we can build on our own general education courses, which for the most part are the foundation of this program," Van Slooten said.
While Bay College provides general education and specialized coursework, MSU contributes discipline-specific forestry instruction.
Taylor Shay, coordinator of the Forestry Technology and Agricultural Operations programs at Bay College, shared successful student experiences:
Since joining the college, Shay said students have participated in several hands-on learning opportunities, including heavy equipment safety and chainsaw training, as well as field activities and labs at the MSU FIC.
In addition to hosting classes and labs, the MSU FIC hires summer interns, many of whom have come from the MSU IAT programs at Bay College.
"They (the center) provide so many open-door learning opportunities," Shay added. "They are an incredible partner. We could not have the program be as hands-on as we do without them."
Currently, there are six students enrolled in the Forest Technology program, with ages ranging from 18 to 25. Three students are currently enrolled in the Agriculture Operations program.
"I have great students," Shay said. "They have been absolutely wonderful. They have jumped right into hands-on learning."
Three additional students are expected to join the Forest Technology program in the spring, expanding the age range to between 18 and 65.