In response to concerns expressed by frustrated students, Schoolcraft College has initiated the SC Guarantee. Under the guarantee, no credit class will be cancelled based on the number of students who sign up. The SC Guarantee was piloted for Fall 2011 and is being continued for Winter 2012. The guarantee applies to credit classes only.

In the past, Schoolcraft followed a practice common at many colleges. It involves establishing a minimum number of students -- at Schoolcraft it was usually between 9 and 12 -- needed in order for a class to run. If the minimum number wasn't met by a deadline, the class was cancelled. The few students who had signed up for the class would have to scramble to find another class to fill their schedules.

The college had been hearing from frustrated students who wanted to achieve a goal but could not because the class they needed got cancelled. The new approach has made it easier for students to graduate with their certificate or associate degree, get the courses they want for transfer to a university, and fulfill other educational goals.

New sections of classes are added based on student demand, so students are encouraged to check the online listing of courses, which is continually being updated.

There are situations in which a class might be cancelled for reasons other than the number of students enrolled. For example, if an instructor originally scheduled to teach a class becomes unavailable and the college is unable to find another instructor for that class, the college reserves the right to cancel that class.

The use of enrollment minimums promotes the efficient use of instructional resources at the classroom level. There is a tradeoff, however, when students who would have taken two, three or even four classes leave one college and go to another because they couldn't get one of the classes they wanted at the first college.

With the guarantee, Schoolcraft officials are viewing efficiency at an institutional level. They are hopeful that the new approach will retain enough students to offset any loss in efficiency at the course level. In keeping with this mindset, the guarantee is was piloted for the Fall 2011 semester renewed for Winter 2012.

Updated information on the SC No-classes-cancelled guarantee will be posted here.

Registration for Winter 2012 credit classes begins November 12.