What West Shore Community College is like

What it's like

A regional community college serving northern Michigan with practical academic offerings and active recreation facilities. Located in Scottville between Ludington and Manistee, West Shore has grown steadily from its founding and maintains partnerships with regional universities.

Academic feel

West Shore offers certificate and degree programs with significant online course availability—as of 2016, online courses accounted for 20% of attempted credits. The college participates in AQIP accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission and maintains articulation agreements with regional universities including Ferris State, Central Michigan, Davenport, and Walsh College.

Social life

The college supports student life through organized activities via its Student Organizations and Activities Program (SOAP), which sponsors campus events and leadership opportunities. Student clubs range from Phi Theta Kappa to Live Action Role-Playing, with a straightforward process for creating new clubs. The college also hosts community cultural programming including theater, dance, music performances, and art exhibits.

What you should consider

Students seeking flexible learning options, particularly those balancing education with other commitments, benefit from West Shore's extensive online and hybrid course offerings. The college serves regional students pursuing transfer pathways to four-year universities through its established articulation agreements.

Strengths

• Established ice arena facility with NHL-size ice surface available for community and competitive use, including hosting multiple junior and varsity hockey programs.[1]
• Comprehensive recreation center with swimming pool, weight training equipment, and multiple courts for basketball, racquetball, and volleyball.[1]
• Significant online and hybrid course infrastructure with over 25 online courses available each semester and enrollment growth in distance learning.[1]
• Articulation agreements with multiple four-year universities including Ferris State University, Central Michigan University, Davenport University, and Walsh College.[1]
• Modern science facilities including an 18,000 square foot state-of-the-art science wing added to the Arts and Sciences Center in 2002.[1]

Traditions

• Campus Center, now functioning as the Administrative Building, was the college's first permanent structure, dedicated in spring 1970 after classes were held in relocatable classrooms from the college's 1967 founding.[1]