THE BAY COLLEGE Iron Mountain campus on U.S. 2 on the city’s north side. (Sean Chase/Daily News file photo)

ESCANABA, Mich. — Bay College is working with state regulatory agencies to resume the practical nursing program at its campuses in Iron Mountain and Escanaba.

The college has submitted a comprehensive plan for the future of its PN program to the Bureau of Professional Licensing, which is under the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, or LARA. The agency’s review includes a site visit and an analysis of its curriculum, facilities and program personnel.

“At Bay College, we are committed to partnering with state officials to relaunch our PN program to bring back a critical pipeline that can help fill desperately needed nursing jobs in the Upper Peninsula and across Michigan,” said Dr. Nerita Hughes, president of Bay College. “Our PN students are passionate about their studies and excited about their careers in health care, and they look forward to returning and resuming their studies.”

Bay College’s PN certificate program was put on pause in February after it was discovered the program lacked proper accreditation.

Although the Michigan State Board of Nursing approved Bay College’s Nursing Program in 1967, the three-semester PN program reportedly did not meet requirements set out by the same board in 2018.

Students enrolled in the program were allowed to complete coursework as scheduled and graduate this month, and past graduates are unaffected.

Bay College has all the necessary equipment, faculty and personnel in place to quickly resume the PN courses as well as hands-on training labs that are part of its program at both campuses in the U.P., the college stated in a news release.

“We are excited to continue Bay College’s well-regarded PN program, which is known for producing high-quality graduates who provide incredible care,” said Dr. Patrick Reinhard, dean of Nursing and Allied Health programs at Bay College. “Our team appreciates the opportunities to work with state regulators to highlight the successes of our PN program and its promising future.”

Bay College leaders also have been working with state lawmakers to build awareness and support for the college’s PN program, which has vast benefits to helping address nursing shortages across Michigan.

The college’s proposed timeline for the state review of the PN program includes campus visits in September with a possible vote to reinstate the program by the Michigan Board of Nursing in November. With the agency’s timely review and approval, the college plans to finalize course planning and student offerings later this year and resume the PN program in January 2026.

More than 100 students are currently enrolled in the Nursing Program at Bay College. Over the past five years, 274 practical nurses and registered nurses working in the U.P. have graduated from Bay College. More than 700 practical purses and registered nurses working in Michigan have graduated from Bay College in the past 10 years.