BENTON TOWNSHIP — Lake Michigan College is offering a free, new program for adults who are thinking about going to college for the first time or returning to school after a hiatus.

The three-week, Thursday evening College Essentials group will meet from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 12, April 19 and April 26, at LMC’s Benton Harbor campus on. The cost of the class is free to attendees, along with complimentary food and refreshments and a tuition voucher upon completion.

The program addresses common barriers faced by adults who want to earn a degree, but worry about tuition costs, choosing the right program, and juggling family and work responsibilities.

Personal career coaching and academic advising sessions will help attendees choose degree or certificate programs that lead to well-paying local careers. On-campus childcare, tutoring, laptop loans, veteran’s services, and special scholarships will be offered to make college more manageable.

The program also provides a chance for non-traditional students to ease anxiety by networking with other adults, becoming familiar with the campus and updating their technology skills.

Attracting more working age adults is a goal for LMC as southwest Michigan continues to lag behind the rest of the state and the nation in educational attainment, and as local employers in industries like healthcare and manufacturing face challenges finding skilled workers, officials said. More classes are continuously being offered online or on evenings and weekends to ensure the region’s workforce has the knowledge and skills to keep up with the economy.

Registration for College Essentials is at lakemichigancollege.edu/essentials. Those who attend all three sessions will earn a tuition voucher for one free credit this summer or fall semester. Contact Admissions with questions by phone or text at (269) 927-8626, or email admissions@lakemichigancollege.edu.