ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – A Bay College nursing program will not accept new students next semester.
According to a statement by President Dr. Nerita Hughes, Bay College has been pursuing accreditation for its Practical Nursing program through the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. However, because that accreditation has not yet been met, Bay College cannot enroll new students into the program this fall.
“As we pursue that accreditation, our Practical Nurse (PN) program is among a handful across Michigan that will not be able to accept students for the fall 2025 semester due to requirements set out in 2018 by the Michigan State Board of Nursing for that program,” Dr. Hughes said.
While the program’s pause will not affect recent PN graduates or those already enrolled in it, Dr. Hughes acknowledged the impact it will have on students planning to enroll next semester.
“We recognize this development has caused inconvenience and disappointment among our students hoping to take classes this fall,” she said. “We are committed to working with each student and family individually regarding their options going forward.”
Dr. Hughes’ statement says that when college leadership learned of the status of Bay’s PN program, they launched an internal review of the situation. That review remains ongoing.
“… And while I inherited this situation from previous administrations, I am committed to addressing it because our students and families deserve our support and a full accounting of how we arrived here,” Dr. Hughes wrote. “We have already updated a number of our internal communications procedures to create additional transparency and oversight into the accreditation process and we are continuing to communicate with the state about this issue.”
In her statement, Dr. Hughes goes on to say that while the “temporary pause may reflect on the inability by previous administrators to navigate state-mandated changes to the accreditation process,” the situation is not a reflection of the PN program, faculty, and students.
Bay College expects PN program admission to resume next year. Students interested in the program are advised to continue taking prerequisite courses in the the pre-nursing program.
“Students may also consider alternative pathways into nursing, including applying for our accredited Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program or another health care field,” Dr. Hughes said. “As always, our primary focus is on supporting our students with resources and information and our team stands ready to help with any questions. We will continue to provide updates to our students, staff and faculty members as we navigate the accreditation process of this important program.”
The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing is scheduled to make a site visit at Bay College later this year.
