Kirtland Community College is a

public In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individual people, and the public (a.k.a. the general public) is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociology, sociological concept of the ''Öf ...

community college A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries: many community colleges have an "open enrollment" for students who have graduated from high school (also known as senior s ...

in Grayling, Michigan.

History

Kirtland was founded in 1966 under the provisions of Michigan's Public Act 188 of 1955, it is the state's largest community college district geographically, totaling 2,500 square miles (6,500 km2) and consisting of all or part of nine counties. Approximately 65,000 people reside within the district. Kirtland opened the doors of its five portable classrooms in 1968 with 160 students. The college is named after the

Kirtland's warbler Kirtland's warbler (''Setophaga kirtlandii''), also known in Michigan by the common name jack pine bird, or the jack pine warbler, is a small songbird of the New World warbler family (Parulidae), named after Jared Potter Kirtland, an Ohio do ...

. Kirtland’s new central campus was built in 2016. In addition, Kirtland maintains classrooms and community spaces at two regional locations in Gaylord and Roscommon, Michigan.

Academics

Kirtland offers degree and certificate programs, including transfer associate degrees, and areas of study in arts and sciences, business, professional programs, industrial trades, health science, public safety and more. Evening and online courses are available. The college is accredited by the

Higher Learning Commission The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an institutional accreditor in the United States. It has historically accredited post-secondary education institutions in the central United States: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Io ...

. The college also holds membership in the Michigan Community College Association and the American Association of Community Colleges. The

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), also known as the North Central Association, was a membership organization, consisting of colleges, universities, and schools in 19 U.S. states engaged in educational accreditation. It ...

, the predecessor to the Higher Learning Commission, granted Kirtland Community College status as a candidate for accreditation in 1972 and the college has been accredited as an associate degree-granting institution since 1975.

Athletics

The college competes in intercollegiate athletics as a member of the Eastern Conference of the Michigan College Athletic Association. The Kirtland Firebirds compete in men's and women's golf and cross-country running. Kirtland has half- to full-ride scholarships available. In 2015, Kirtland added bowling to their athletics department. In 2022, Kirtland added men's and women's basketball to their athletics department.

Notes

External links

* {{authority control Two-year colleges in the United States Community colleges in Michigan Education in Crawford County, Michigan Educational institutions established in 1966 Buildings and structures in Crawford County, Michigan 1966 establishments in Michigan NJCAA athletics