Cook County Higher Education (CCHE) celebrates its new North Shore Campus with an Open House Saturday, December 5 from 2 to 4:30 pm. Visitors can tour the new facility and see demonstrations of the technology used to offer local degree programs.

Last January, Cook County Higher Education purchased the former Baptist Church and renovated it to create a North Shore Campus that provides a physical space where students, high school age to senior citizens, can take college classes and workshops, meet with a mentor and study. The North Shore Campus is an affordable alternative for college education with flexible programming to address the needs of our community.

Renovation was accomplished with a $125,000 grant from the Blandin Foundation, $30,000 from the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation, $20,000 from Iron Range Resources, and over $6,700 in local contributions. The Cook County Economic Development Authority helped CCHE make the purchase arrangements. Local Architect Russell Zenk produced the plans, and contractor Glenn Peterson carried them out, resulting in a dynamic North Shore Campus.

The new facility provides new job opportunities.  CCHE hired Jean Marie Modl as the Student Services Assistant, a part time position. Ms. Modl previously worked with CCHE during its formative years. Program coordinator Kirstin van den Berg now can spend more one-on-one time with students who are seeking degree and certificate information.

CCHE is seeking a computer lab support person, a position that will be hired out through the Northeast Minnesota Office of Job Training. Although a minimum wage position, it offers some education perks, such as being able to do homework while working, and the opportunity of funding assistance from Job Training to pay for a degree or certificate.

With a large classroom, computer lab, and other amenities, CCHE can significantly increase the number of locally offered degree programs, all in conjunction with regional colleges and universities.  Potential new programming includes law enforcement, hospitality management and natural resources, among others.

Paula Sundet Wolf, executive director says, “We are still settling in to the new space, opening boxes and painting shelves, but according to the students the North Shore Campus is pretty close to perfect!”

The North Shore Campus is located at 300 West 3rd Street in Grand Marais. For information, contact 387-3411 or highered@boreal.org or visit the web site www.boreal.org/highered.