ESCANABA — The Bay College Board approved multiple changes to Bay’s curriculum for the 2018-19 school year at a special meeting earlier this week.

One of the most significant changes was the introduction of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI, Technologist associate’s degree, along with 13 courses associated with the program. Matthew Barron, Bay College vice president of academic affairs, noted some of the courses will be offered through the Michigan Colleges Online MRI Technologist online program.

“(That) is a collaborative effort between us and a number of other colleges across the state,” Barron said of the new program.

As part of the consortium, students in Bay’s MRI Technologist program will take some specialized courses through other colleges and their general education courses at Bay College. These students will be considered Bay graduates as well.

Other new programs approved included an Automotive Maintenance Technician certificate and an Automotive Master Technician certificate. Bay College President Laura Coleman said these programs will likely appeal to students involved with the Delta-Schoolcraft Intermediate School District.

Revisions were approved for Bay’s Network Administration, Corrections, Early Childhood Education, Law Enforcement, Marketing, and Paramedics associate’s degrees, along with the college’s Early Childhood Education certificate.

The board also approved changes to individual courses. New courses to be added to the college’s curriculum for 2018-2019 include Advertising and Promotion; Social Media Marketing; Introduction to Chemistry, along with a related lab course; Curriculum Development and Assessment I and II; Introduction to Ethics in Early Childhood; Introduction to Assessment in Early Childhood; School Age Care; Exceptional Children in Early Childhood; Varsity Baseball; Varsity Softball; and Paramedic Trauma.

Adjustments to 23 existing courses at the college were approved, and the CAD Competency Definition, CAD Competency Assessment and Curriculum Development and Assessment I courses were retired.

Board Vice-Chairman William Lake said he appreciated the effort the college’s faculty put into developing the changes.

In other business, the board:

— Approved an application for a special liquor license for the Business After Hours networking event taking place June 19 at Bay College West in Iron Mountain.

— Presented the TORCH Award to Aaron Kippola, technical and Besse Theater coordinator.