ESCANABA -- A growing resource pool, that's what President Barack Obama recently told the nation he considers community colleges to be.  But he feels there's still some work to be done.

At a recent community college summit at the White House, President Obama told the nation he wants community colleges to build partnerships to increase job placement after graduation.   

Those at Bay de Noc Community College in Escanaba say they're already on it.  They currently partner with Michigan Works, focusing on students in the welding field.

However, Bay President Laura Coleman says many other program graduates are also seeing success.

"Our graduates do have a very, very high success rate," explained Coleman.  "Our water tech students have three or four jobs they get to pick from when they graduate because there's such a huge demand.  Our welding students are able to find jobs very easily."

Nursing is another part of that list.  The growing program had over 600 applicants for only 160 spots this year.  And officials say those who get into the program are finding jobs across the county.

"They go on to practice either here in the community or to various states throughout the upper Midwest, and some of our students are actually going all the way to the West coast," said Dean of Allied Health and Wellness, Margaret Smith.

Bay College is currently working on another partnership with local businesses in the manufacturing industry.  They hope to have that partnership in place by this winter.