ESCANABA -- Community colleges typically offer two-year degrees, but under terms approved by the Michigan House, they may be able to offer some bachelor's degrees.
One course that'll be impacted is nursing.
Bay College President, Dr. Laura Coleman, said it could take the college three to five years to get credentialing and put a new curriculum in place. Still, Coleman said she doesn't anticipate a tuition increase for nursing students.
The National Nursing Organization is pushing for a Bachelor's Degree to become the credential for every entry-level nurse.
And other students are already being affected.
“What I know right now,” explains Dr. Coleman, “is that there are magnet schools down in southeast Michigan who will not let community colleges bring their students on to do clinicals because they've become magnet hospitals. We’re not facing it here yet because Marquette is not a magnet hospital.”
The measure would allow community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees for culinary arts, cement technology, maritime technology, and also energy production.
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