North Hennepin Community College and Bemidji State University have created a partnership that allows NHCC students to earn bachelor of science degrees in biology from Bemidji State while studying at NHCC’s Brooklyn Park campus. North Hennepin president Barbara McDonald and Bemidji State president Richard Hanson put their pens to the partnership papers during a Dec. 8 signing event at NHCC’s new Bioscience and Health Careers Center.
The first cohort of 12 students began their studies this fall, and another 22 students will begin with the spring semester that begins in January, according to Elaina Bleifield, dean of sciences and math at NHCC. The students will participate in a blend of online and in-person classes, including classes facilitated by the telepresence technology in the Bioscience and Health Careers building.
Kari Hovorka is a student in the first biology degree class. Hovorka, a mom of four children, received her associates degree at NHCC and said the creation of the program was ‘provincial’ for her to stay home with her family and still earn her four-year degree. She wants to work in sustainability and environmental sciences. Bemidji State, she said, has a great reputation for environmental education.
“This is a great legacy that they are sharing with North Hennepin,” she said.
The biology degree, Bleifield said, is the only such degree available from a public higher education institution, outside of the University of Minnesota, in the metro area.
Having a high-quality four-year science degree available to her and the diverse student body of North Hennepin is a significant opportunity, Hovorka said.
“You are opening doors. Thank you for that,” she said.
McDonald said she expects the program to grow as students learn about the opportunity. “This is an excellent fit for our students,” she said. “I am confident that the numbers will grow as awareness grows.”
Bemidji State has a long history of accessibility to students, including years of offering online classes, Hanson noted. This collaboration is the latest in those efforts, and the future is created by collaboration and educational structures that allow for a new way.
“The work we are celebrating today is part of the future,” Hanson said.
The biology degree is one of several bachelors degrees available at NHCC through agreements with four-year institutions. NHCC students can also study for their bachelor’s degree in business from Concordia University in St. Paul, for their business administration degree from Metropolitan State University or their business management degree from Bethel University. Four-year degrees in construction management, operations management and project management are available through Minnesota State University in Moorhead. Medical laboratory science degrees are available from St. Cloud State, and nursing degrees can be earned from Bethel University and Metropolitan State University, while studying on the NHCC campus.
Contact Gretchen Schlosser at gretchen.schlosser@ecm-inc.com