Brown Mackie College–South Bend

Colleges You May Like

• Ball State University
• Brown Mackie College–Michigan City
• Goshen College
• Indiana University South Bend
• Valparaiso University

From the College

Brown Mackie College–South Bend is one of over twenty locations in the Brown Mackie College family of schools (http://www.brownmackie.edu), which is dedicated to providing educational programs that prepare students to pursue entry-level positions in a competitive, rapidly-changing workplace. Brown Mackie College schools offer bachelor's degree, associate degree, certificate, and diploma programs in health sciences, business, information technology, legal studies, and design to over 14,000 students in the Midwest, Southeastern, and Southwestern United States.

The College is one of the oldest institutions of its kind in the country. Established in 1882 as the South Bend Commercial College, the school later changed its name to Michiana College. In 1930, the school was incorporated under the laws of the state of Indiana and was authorized to confer associate degrees and certificates in business. The College relocated to its current location on East Jefferson Boulevard in 1987.

Brown Mackie College–South Bend is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) to award bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates. The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and School is listed as a nationally recognized accrediting agency by the United States Department of Education and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The ACICS can be contacted at 750 First Street NE, Suite 980, Washington, D.C. 20002; 202-336-6780.

The Brown Mackie College–South Bend Associate of Science degree in medical assisting is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (http://www.caahep.org), upon recommendation of the Curriculum Review Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants Endowment (AAMAE).

The occupational therapy assistant program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, Maryland 20824; 301-652-AOTA.

The Brown Mackie College–South Bend Associate of Applied Science degree in physical therapist assistant is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; 703-706-3241.

The Brown Mackie College–South Bend practical nursing program is accredited by the Indiana State Board of Nursing, 402 West Washington Street, Room W066, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204; 317-234-2043.

Brown Mackie College–South Bend is licensed and regulated by the Indiana Commission on Proprietary Education, 302 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204; 317-232-1320 or 800-227-5695 (toll-free). (Indiana Advertising Code: AC 0110.)

The College is a nonresidential, smoke-free institution.

Brown Mackie College– South Bend provides higher education to traditional and nontraditional students through bachelor’s degree, associate degree, certificate, and diploma programs that can assist them in enhancing their career opportunities, broadening their perspectives through appropriate general education courses, thinking independently and critically, and improving problem-solving abilities. The College strives to develop within its students the desire for lifelong and continued education.

Each College quarter comprises twelve weeks. Bachelor’s degree programs require a minimum of sixteen quarters to complete. Associate degree programs require a minimum of eight quarters to complete. Programs are offered on a year-round basis, providing students with the ability to work uninterrupted toward their degrees. The College offers all programs in a unique One Course a Month schedule. This schedule allows students to focus studies on only one course for four weeks. This schedule has proven convenient for students with multiple obligations such as jobs and family.

Bachelor’s Degree Programs: The Bachelor of Science degree (184 credits) is awarded in business administration, criminal justice, health-care management, and legal studies.

Associate Degree Programs: The Associate of Science degree (96 credits) is awarded in business management, computer software technology, criminal justice, early childhood education, health and therapeutic massage, health-care administration, information technology, medical assisting, paralegal studies, and veterinary technology. The Associate of Applied Science degree (100 credits) is awarded in occupational therapy assistant and physical therapist assistant.

Diploma Program: The College offers a diploma program (76 credits) in practical nursing.

Certificate Programs: The College offers certificate programs (48 credits) in accounting, business, computer software applications, criminal justice, medical assistant, and paralegal assistant.

Tuition for most programs in the 2009–10 academic year is $235 per credit hour, with a $15 per credit hour general fee applied to instructional costs for activities and services. Tuition for all courses in the practical nursing program is $295 per credit hour, with a $20 per credit hour general fee. Tuition for certain courses in the physical therapist assistant program is $350 per credit hour. Tuition for certain courses in the occupational therapy assistant program is $350 per credit hour. The cost of textbooks and other instructional materials varies by program.

Financial aid is available to those who qualify. The College maintains a full-time staff of financial aid professionals to assist qualified students in obtaining financial assistance. The College participates in several student aid programs. Forms of financial aid available through federal resources include the Federal Pell Grant Program, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) Program, Federal Work-Study Program, Federal Perkins Loan Program, Federal Stafford Student Loan Program (subsidized and unsubsidized), and the Federal PLUS Loan Program.

Eligible students may apply for Indiana state awards, such as the Frank O’Bannon Grant Program (formerly the Indiana Higher Education Grant) and Twenty-First Century Scholars Program for high school students, the Core 40 awards, and veteran’s educational benefits. Students with physical or mental disabilities that are a handicap to employment may be eligible for training services through the state’s Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation. For further information, students should contact the College Student Financial Services Office.

Each year, the College makes available scholarships of $1000 each to qualifying seniors from area high schools. No more than one scholarship is awarded per high school. In order to qualify, a senior must be graduating from a participating high school, must be maintaining a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0, and must submit a brief essay. The student’s extracurricular activities and community service are also considered. The scholarship is available only to students enrolling in one of the College’s degree programs. Students awarded the scholarship must enroll at Brown Mackie College–South Bend between June and September immediately following their high school graduation. Applications for these scholarships can be obtained from the guidance departments of participating high schools. These applications must be completed and returned to the College by March 31.

There are 19 full-time and 24 part-time faculty members at the College. The average student-faculty ratio is 12:1. Each student is assigned a program director as an adviser.

Brown Mackie College–South Bend’s four-story facility comprises 31,000 square feet of classrooms. The building offers a modern, professional environment for study. Five classrooms are outfitted as “classrooms of the future,” with an instructor workstation and multimedia capabilities including a surround-sound system and projection screen that can be accessed by computer, DVD, or VHS equipment. The facility also includes medical, computer, and occupational and physical therapy labs, as well as a library and bookstore. The labs provide students with hands-on opportunities to apply knowledge and skills learned in the classroom. Students are welcome to use the labs when those facilities are not in use for scheduled classes.

Brown Mackie College–South Bend is conveniently located at 1030 East Jefferson Boulevard. In August 2009, the College will be moving to larger facilities at 3454 Douglas Road in South Bend. The College is accessible by public transportation; a generous parking area is available at no additional charge. The College also operates a learning site at 2930 South Nappanee Street in Elkhart, Indiana.

Each applicant for admission is assigned an Assistant Director of Admissions, who directs the applicant through the steps of the admissions process, providing information on curriculum, policies, procedures, and services and assisting the applicant in setting necessary appointments and interviews. To qualify for admission, each applicant must provide documentation of graduation from an accredited high school, or from a state-approved secondary education curriculum, or provide official documentation of high school graduation equivalency. All transcripts become the property of the College.

As part of the admission process, students are given an assessment of academic skills. Although the results of this assessment do not determine eligibility for admission, they provide the College with a means of determining the need for academic support as well as a means by which the College can evaluate the effectiveness of its educational programs. All new students are required to complete this assessment, which is readministered at the end of the student’s program so results may be compared with those of the initial administration.

In addition to the College’s general admission requirements, applicants enrolling in the occupational therapy assistant or physical therapist assistant programs must document one of the following: a high school cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5, a score on the GED examination of at least 57 (557 if taken on or after January 15, 2002), or completion of 12 quarter-credit hours or 8 semester-credit hours of collegiate course work with a grade point average of at least 2.5. Credit hours may not include Professional Development (CF 1100), the Brown Mackie College–South Bend course. Students entering either program must also have completed a biology course with a grade of at least a C (or an average of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale).

In addition to the College’s general admission requirements, applicants enrolling in the practical nursing program must document the following: fulfillment of Brown Mackie College–South Bend general requirements; complete physical (must be current to within six months of admission); two-step Mantoux TB skin test (must be current throughout schooling); hepatitis B vaccination or signed refusal; up-to-date immunizations, including tetanus and rubella; record of current CPR certification (certification must be current throughout the clinical experience through health-care provider certification or the American Heart Association); and hospitalization insurance or a signed waiver.

For the most recent information regarding admission requirements, please refer to the current academic catalog.

Applicants must complete and submit an application form along with documentation of graduation from an accredited high school or state-approved secondary education curriculum or official documentation of high school graduation equivalency.

For additional information, prospective students should contact: