Two college credit courses and a non-credit beginning computer class are being offered in January at LaSalle High School in St. Ignace, the first classes to be offered by the newly formed Great Waters Center for Lifelong Learning school.

The school, which is in the process of establishing an office on State Street, has collaborated with North Central Michigan College in Petoskey for the college-level courses. Credit for the two classes, interpersonal communication and beginning algebra, apply toward several degree programs offered at the college and are transferrable to other colleges.

All classes begin Monday, January 19. Enrollment and registration for the college courses is available online at www.ncmich.edu. The deadline to enroll is Thursday, January 15.

To hold the classes, a minimum of 10 students per class must register.

The three-credit interpersonal communication course is being taught by Michelle Walk, the director of the Michigan State University Extension office in Mackinac County. The class is designed to develop communication skills in interpersonal relationships, small groups, and in society. Cost for the class is $342.60.

Four credits are offered for those completing the beginning algebra class, which will be taught by Mike Springsteen, superintendent of St. Ignace Area Schools. The class offers basic operations with real numbers, linear equations and inequalities, use of exponents, and more. A prerequisite requires a Computer Adaptive Placement Assessment and Support System (COMPASS) algebra score of 46 or higher or a minimum mathematics score of 21 on the American College Testing (ACT) exam.Cost for the class is $456.80.

North Central Michigan College is a community college that offers courses leading to certificates, bachelor's, and master's degrees from participating universities.

Information on financial aid programs is available through the college.

The six-week beginning computer class will be taught by Andrew Long and Pat Chargo. Both are instructors at St. Ignace Area Schools. The computer class serves as an introduction and includes instruction on basic computer operation, software programs, and how to access and use the Internet. Cost for the class is $100.

For more information about the classes, contact the St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce at 643- 6545.

Great Waters Center Sets Up in Downtown St. Ignace

The Great Waters Center for Lifelong Learning, which is setting up an office across from Ace Hardware on State Street in St. Ignace, is looking for furniture and financial support.

"We need a presence and we thought we needed to be downtown," said Cheryl Schlehuber, one of the organizers of the school. "It can be a really cool building where people feel like this is a fun place to go and if they make it fun, then people will want to be part of it. It's for the community."

The school needs financial support. In the future, she said, it should be able to support itself, although right now it lacks money for utility payments and the cost to apply for a nonprofit status, which would exempt the school from some federal income taxes.

Mrs. Schlehuber, who owns the building, initially is offering free use of the space that once served as a pizza restaurant, until the school can get funding.

The goal, she said, is for people walk in the door and see comfortable couches and chairs, a table filled with books and magazines, desks, and Internet access for visitors. The school is hoping residents will donate the needed items.

"The Great Waters Center will be a gathering place where education and entrepreneurs (business) come together in a think-tank style setting," said Mrs. Schlehuber. "Where people from all walks of life, void of physical, educational, and governmental borders, local and regional, put their best ideas on the table. Where creativity is welcome, dreams are born, and lifestyles and communities can change for the better."

The building also is approved for a commercial kitchen, although it lacks equipment. Eventually, the school would like to establish culinary classes.

"That's one of the vocational trades we feel is important to the area," she said. "With use of the commercial kitchen, we should be able to sustain the cost to keep the building going, hopefully."

Other vocational trades and enrichment courses also are planned as part of the school's program, she said, and the school is working with other area colleges, including Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

For more information about the school, call the St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce at 643- 6545.