The same school who earned press nationwide in 2009 when it introduced “Campus and Community: Together for Good,” its unique partnership with Hancock Public Schools, is once again at it this year with two creative tuition initiatives aimed at helping students better afford higher education.

Finlandia University this week announced Finlandia Four and Finlandia Future, which can be combined to save students tens of thousands of dollars. Finlandia Four locks in a student’s tuition rate for four years, while Finlandia Future provides free tuition during a student’s eighth semester.

“We’re proud of the combination of a liberal arts-based and career-directed quality educational experience we provide to our students,” said Lenny Klaver, Vice President for Advancement. “With Finlandia Four and Finlandia Future, we’re confident that more students will have the opportunity to join us at Finlandia.

The two programs will allow students from day one to map out their college expenses.

“This is a luxury that will truly allow families to feel comfortable as their children begin the next stage of their life,” said Karin Van Dyke, Vice President of University Relations. “The feedback we’ve heard so far from students and their families has been incredible.”

Both programs will begin this fall for incoming freshman. Current students will also be able to take advantage of Finlandia Four to lock in this year’s tuition rate.

More details about Finlandia Four and Finlandia Future can be found online at finlandia.edu/future.

Finlandia’s focus on academics shown with two new programs

This summer Finlandia announced two new degrees, Philosophy and Medical Billing and Coding Specialist. The programs will begin this fall, and have already began accepting new students.

The philosophy degree is part of the curriculum in the Suomi College of Arts & Sciences.

“Implementing this major is an important step for us to carry on the traditional model of liberal arts education,” said Casey Rentmeester, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religion. “The major is designed for students interested in cultivating the skill of reasoning well in ethical, political, religious, or cultural contexts, which is beneficial in all aspects of life.”

Rentmeester played an active role in designing the new program.

“This is an obvious fit for Finlandia’s mission of fostering intellectual challenge, and open dialogue in our students,” he said. “For students interested in graduate studies in law, politics, business or the humanities, this degree will be a great place to develop their core skills.”

The College of Health Sciences added the Medical Billing and Coding Specialist program after examining figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which said the field is expected to grow by more than 20 percent in the next 10 years.

“With the passing and implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the opportunities in this field are tremendous,” said Pam Audette, Program Director of the Certified Medical Assistant program. “Any healthcare setting is now mandated to use electronic health records, and our graduates will be well prepared to manage those records.”

The degrees are two of 31 offered by the university, including criminal justice, business and nursing, which currently has no waiting list for entry. Learn more about Finlandia’s academic programs by visiting Finlandia.edu/academics.

Lawley shines as Finlandia athletics continues building momentum in 2014

The athletics office at Finlandia University has also been quite busy this year, highlighted by the university having its first NCAA All American, and the hiring of football coach Tim Driscoll.

Alexis Lawley was lights out this year for the Lions, leading the nation in batting average with an astounding .574 mark. With that, she was voted to the 2014 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American third-team.

Driscoll has been coaching collegiate football since 1990, including 11 seasons of coaching in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. He is already hard at work recruiting students, and intends to begin team practices throughout this school year in preparation for the team’s debut in September 2015.

Part of Finlandia’s expansion in NCAA athletics also includes the addition of a men’s and women’s tennis teams. The tams will begin competition during the 2015-16 academic year. An announcement regarding the program’s first coach is expected soon.

Football and Men’s and Women’s tennis are three of the 13 athletic teams the university is adding over the next seven years.