Robert B. Miller College
The Robert B. Miller College was a private college in Battle Creek, Michigan. It was housed in the Mawby Center of Kellogg Community College and closed in 2016.
History
Founded in Battle Creek, Michigan in 2005,[1] the Robert B. Miller College was a private college named after Robert B. Miller Sr., former publisher of the Battle Creek Enquirer and philanthropist behind the Miller Foundation.[1][2] As reported by MLive:
Miller, a private, nonprofit organization, was developed as a resource for working adult students, who are completing the last two years of their baccalaureate degrees. ... It is a collaboration between Kellogg Community College and Battle Creek-area foundation.[3][4]
The college was described as aiming to train graduates to be skilled in their fields of study and to foster improvement in their local communities.[5]
Miller College offered Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in disciplines such as Business, Education, Nursing, and Liberal Arts. It had a student-to-faculty ratio of 16:1 and a modest student population of around 362.[3][5]
Closure
In 2015, auditors uncovered serious issues with the college’s financial aid distribution, including improperly allocated funds totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.[6]
In June 2016, the college announced closure after auditors discovered large amounts of financial aid were being improperly distributed to students.[3][4][6]
The Miller Foundation, which had invested approximately $10 million into the institution, deemed that an additional $5 to $7 million dollars was required to keep the college afloat—a sum deemed unsustainable.[6]
Paul Ohm, the former college president, described the situation as a "financial disaster".[6]
Aftermath
To ensure degree completion for students after the shutdown, the college partnered with Western Michigan University. Other students received transfer assistance to continue their education elsewhere.[3][4]
References
- ^ a b "Robert B. Miller, Jr. Obituary". March 5, 2007. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
- ^ "Learn more about the founder of The Miller Foundation of Battle Creek, Michigan". The Miller Foundation, Battle Creek. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "WMU announces plan to help Miller College students complete degrees". Kalamazoo: MLive. December 9, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
- ^ a b c Sparks, Kyle (December 8, 2015). "WMU opens its doors to Robert Miller College students". WWMT. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
- ^ a b "The Robert B Miller College Degree Programs, Majors and Tuition Information". www.collegeatlas.org. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Merchant, Safiya. "Miller College to close amid 'financial disaster'". Battle Creek Enquirer. Retrieved September 20, 2025.(subscription required)