History of Bridge

View Our Presentation
(Adobe Acrobat, 2.81 MB)

The NMC Bridge Program began in 1993 as a project. It was part of the initial national Tech Prep initiative and was one of the first 25 programs of its type in the nation as well as could be estimated. The initial project was proposed as a math/technology program to prepare students to work in the emerging technology work world through occupational studies. However, NMC’s service area needs were a different story.

Geographically NMC’s location in Grand Traverse County with its surrounding four to 10-county service area is designated rural, and much of its population was comprised of more college hopefuls needing a foundation of skills springboard more than anything. Charlene Lutes, the current coordinator, did a five-county study in the spring of 1993. She found that a self-esteem model would serve the learners best. So the effort was made to begin to “develop the potential” of learners in a holistic manner.

The spirit of the program ranges from foundational skills that lead to higher level college skills to personal and professional issues of the learner. Growing from nine students in the fall of 1993 to between 65 to 75 students each academic year, the NMC Bridge Program was designated a model program of strength for adults entering higher education by the North Central Accreditation Team in its 2000 report. The program continues to adjust its activities to the needs of the nontraditional adult learner.