ESCANABA - Bay College received high praise from an accreditation team that visited the college this week for a two-day quality check-up. The team gave a glowing report on the college and also announced they would be recommending it receive full accreditation once again.
The college underwent the check-up Tuesday through Thursday by a team representing the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, one of six accreditation agencies in the U.S.. that provides institutional accreditation.
Bay College has been accredited by the commission since 1976 , and has participated in the Commission's Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQUIP) since 2004.
The purpose of the site visit is to provide external support for Bay in its pursuit of ever-higher quality, while also ensuring its compliance with various Commission policies.
The accreditation team visiting Bay College was composed of Dr. Jane Salisbury, dean of institutional planning and effectiveness at Edison State College, Ohio; and Ann Auten, director of teacher education at Inver Hills Community College, Minn.
After the team had finished its check up and developed a report on the college, they verbally shared the report with college officials, informing them of how the college performed.
Salisbury, who gave the report, said the college's performance is based on a variety of criteria including its compliance with federal requirements, crime statistics, and student default on financial aid, to name a few. They are also looking for the college to constantly be engaged in quality improvement.
The report revealed the college had met all criteria, the team had found no areas of concern and the college is in complete compliance with the Higher Learning Commission.
"The report shows they are in compliance, have solid and transferrable programs, have great concern for students, they are willing to make changes and to make student learning processes easier and better," said Salisbury.. "The processes they're enacting now are positive in design and are aimed at improving and meeting the needs of the service area."
The team will be recommending the college receive full accreditation for the next seven years.
President Laura Coleman was pleased with the results, and attributed the success of the educational institution, to the staff, faculty, administration and the community.
"The Bay College team is great and we have great community support," she said. "This is a thrilling thing. It's an honor to be able to achieve this. We worked very hard over the last several years on quality improvement."
The college's involvement with Achieving the Dream and Title 3 has allowed it to focus on data driven decision making and student success, added Coleman.
"It was a very good visit," agreed Ed Ogle, vice president of instruction and student learning. "My colleagues have been effective in telling the story to the visitors. This reflects on the pride we have and our hard work and it's nice to have it confirmed through a third party."
The college also received positive feedback from the community. As part of the quality checkup visit process, the Higher Learning Commission and Bay College invited the public to submit comments regarding the college.
Salisbury said there were many positive comments posted in regards to the college's role in supporting educational needs, personal support, and life-long learning.
"Throughout the team's visit, it was clear that Bay de Noc Community College is held in high esteem by both students and the communities it serves," she said during the verbal report.
Salisbury explained the team will send the report to the Commission Monday, and the Commission will then review it. Bay College will then be notified of the report and will be sent a finalized copy,
"They'll probably be told the college is doing a terrific job and need to keep going in this direction," said Salisbury.