The County Press

STEMM Academy offers students free college credits




ATTICA TWP. — When it comes to college, there’s one word in particular that makes parents and students sit up and take notice, and the STEMM Academy, a partnership between the Lapeer County Intermediate School District, partner schools and both Baker College and Mott Community College, is shouting that word from the rooftops: free.

Last year, STEMM Academy graduated their first fifth-year cohort, a mix of students hailing from both North Branch and Imlay City school districts. Thirteen students collectively completed 1,079 college credits from Baker College of Flint and as a group managed a 3.18 GPA. The students earned $309,000 in savings for the tuition and textbooks that was paid for by the STEMM Academy, and these numbers equate to approximately 83 college credits per student, which is a savings of $24,000 each.

The STEMM Academy, formed in 2015, is available to students from all five local schools in Lapeer County, however students that attend are primarily from Almont, Imlay City and North Branch high schools. Both Dryden and Lapeer have an early college at their high schools.

The STEMM Academy has two models that students can enroll in: “Traditional” and “CTE Blend.” The traditional model, which was the pathway taken by the baker’s dozen students who graduated last year, provides the opportunity to earn the greater amount of college credits. The CTE Blend model is designed to encourage the students to attend a Career & Technical Education (CTE) program and receive college classes at the same time. Both models allow students to continue their high school experience a fifth year where they will have the opportunity to earn 24 college credits and textbooks at no cost.

Both of the models also include a weekly session called “Seminar on Success,” held each week, that provides students with skills that help prepare them for their future. Topics include time management skills, note taking/test taking skills, organizational skills and how to advocate for their own education. “Career exploration is a focus during Seminar on Success including college tours to our partners, Baker College of Flint and Mott Community College,” Mosher said. “Seminar on Success provides support to students as they begin the transition of a high school student to a college student.”

Despite the opportunity, Instructional Services Manager and STEMM Academic Advisor Dawn Mosher said STEMM Academy might be one of the better-kept secrets when it comes to preparing for life after high school, and it’s a secret she’s trying to spread. “We’re seeing extreme growth in students that participate,” she said. “They’ve really matured as they go through the program and get great opportunities to participate in career exploration, academic growth, college campus visits.” Mosher said students are also taught valuable skills that a successful student will need in college, like time management, accountability and being an advocate for themselves. Afterward, said Mosher, “the students feel much better about going to a college campus on their own. We see them leave high school and aren’t spending any time flailing at a college trying to acclimate.”

As beneficial as STEMM Academy is for students looking to get a headstart on their college education, Mosher said the financial advantage families get through STEMM is reason enough to take notice. “Students can still walk with their class at graduation, can still engage in sports or other extracurricular activities, and some STEMM Academy courses serve dual purpose — as HS credit and college credit,” she said. “Transportation is provided in junior and senior year and all classes in the junior/senior year are held at the Education and Technology Center.” Perhaps most enticing, though, is all tuition, books and fees are free. All costs are covered through the STEMM Academy, and parents and students don’t spend a cent. “It’s really beneficial that they’re learning about this while it’s still on our dime,” said Mosher.

Students and parents can learn more about enrolling in the STEMM Academy by contacting Dawn Mosher at 810-245-3983. Students must enroll by the fall of their junior year in high school to be eligible for the fifth- year experience.