NMCC spring semester gets under way
PRESQUE ISLE — Classes resumed Jan. 14 at Northern Maine Community College for the Spring 2013 semester. Joining returning students and faculty are 170 new students at the college, which is slightly up over last year at this time.
“Spring semester is a time when we often see students who are making a change. In some cases, it’s recent high school graduates who tried a semester away and then for financial, academic or personal reasons choose to return home and take classes with us,” said William Egeler, NMCC dean of students. “Others are workers — both traditional and non-traditional college-aged — who want to change or expand career options. What better time to make a change than the start of a new year.”
Helping to make up the group of new and returning students are the first 18 students in NMCC’s new health information technology program. Health information is the profession dedicated to the effective management of patient information and health care data needed to deliver high-quality treatment and care to the public. HIT professionals who perfect their technical skills become experts in health data collections, data abstraction and enhanced coding while maintaining the highest standards of data integrity, confidentiality and security, in both paper and electronic systems.
The program, which was developed based on demand from the local medical community, adds 11 new courses to the NMCC academic curriculum. It was developed and implemented with the help of $320,000 in funding from a Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Grant.
Those making up the first HIT class are a mix of new students to the college and students who have transferred from other programs.
Whether students are new or returning, they will have a few adjustments to make on campus. Pre-construction work began over the semester break in preparation for the renovation and construction that will be taking place for the new student and wellness centers at the college. Some hallways will have a “construction-zone” appearance, while others will be closed off and traffic temporarily re-routed. Signage will help direct students and visitors to alternate routes.
“Our new wellness and student center is an incredibly exciting project, and we are excited to be getting started,” said NMCC President Timothy Crowley. “As with any construction project, there will be some inconveniences that must be experienced along the way. We will do all that we can to minimize the impact on students and the public. We appreciate people’s patience and understanding; in the end, it will be well worth it.”
The first milestone of the $6 million project will be an official groundbreaking which should take place in March. It is anticipated that the project will be completed during the Spring 2014 semester.
