Registration begins at Mat-Su College

July 13, 2007

By Will Elliott/Frontiersman

MAT-SU - Registration began this week for Mat-Su College's fall semester. A University of Alaska campus, the school offers a number of educational options.

First opened in 1958, the college serves nearly 1,650 students per semester. The main campus is located on a 950-acre site on Trunk Road about halfway between Palmer and Wasilla. A modern 102,676-square-foot facility houses most educational activities.

The college offers a two-year general program leading to an Associate of Arts or Applied Science degree in various fields. Those programs emphasize general education while exposing students to a specific area of study. Architecture, accounting, emergency services, computer technology, small business management are among the offerings. Students can also study at Mat-Su College, then apply those credits toward a Bachelor's degree at the University of Alaska Anchorage or elsewhere.

Some courses are open to high school students though an arrangement with the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District. High schoolers can co-enroll with the college, earning high school and college credit simultaneously. Vocational programs at the college provide certificates in a dozen fields, from Web design to drafting to medical or legal office support. Professional development, continuing education and selected upper division courses are all offered as demand warrants.

Students pursuing a degree apply through a traditional collegiate admissions process. These students are eligible to receive financial aid and other assistance from the University of Alaska. Admission costs $40, with additional fees for enrolled students. Those cover lab fees and other costs.

Residents who simply want to take a few courses for personal enrichment can take advantage of a more streamlined approach. No transcripts or fees are required of these non-degree-seeking students, who are admitted on a rolling basis with no deadlines. Both types of applications can be completed online, though a paper application also exists for degree-seeking students.

The college recommends students meet with an academic advisor before applying. The college devotes resources to help students who are not sure where to start when it comes to a college education. Professionals at the college's Advising and Assessment Center are on hand to make students' entrance into school as easy as possible.

To learn more about applying for college or Mat-Su College's programs, call 745-9774, 745-9746, 745-9751, or visit www.matsu.alaska.edu. Interested parties can also visit the campus at Mile 2 of Trunk Road.

Other options abound in the Valley for students whose needs are not met by a traditional 4-year residential program.

Charter College (www.chartercollege.edu), a for-profit career educator, is opening a new location this fall near the Wasilla Pet Zoo store. Classes for Associates degrees and certificates begin at the end of August, and registration starts July 16. Charter College will hold a kick-off circus and barbecue July 28 and is still hiring for admissions representatives, receptionists and adjunct instructors.

The Wasilla location is equipped with two state-of-the-art computer labs, two lecture classrooms, a full-service medical laboratory classroom, and a student lounge. The campus provides on-site admissions, student financial aid services, and career placement services.

Charter College President T.J. Harris described the institution as neither a liberal arts college, a university, nor a vocational school.

&#8220Instead, it borrows certain elements from each of those respected and significant forms of post-secondary education to create a unique and innovative institution,” he said.

Contact Frontiersman reporter Will Elliott at 352-2252 or will.elliott@frontiersman.com.