Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) recognized Bay College with the Endurance Award during its 14th Annual Conference on November 4, 2025, held at the Lansing Center in Lansing, Michigan. The award acknowledges Bay College’s outstanding and sustained efforts to advance postsecondary access, equity, and student success in the region. micollegeaccess.org
About the Event
MCAN’s 2025 College Access Impact Awards celebrated 13 individuals, organizations, and initiatives across Michigan whose work is making a measurable impact in expanding college access and attainment. The conference theme this year – “Standing Firm: College Still Matters” – underscores the ongoing importance of higher education in today’s rapidly changing landscape.
Ryan Fewins-Bliss, MCAN Executive Director, noted:
“This year’s awardees exemplify collaboration and innovation across sectors — K–12, higher education, policy and advocacy, student support, and workforce development — all united in helping Michigan reach its Sixty by 30 goal and ensure every student has a pathway to success.”
Bay College’s Award-Winning Work
Bay College earned the Endurance Award for its innovative, persistent, and student-centered strategies, including:
- Participation in MCAN’s Gateway Course Redesign Faculty Academy, through which Bay faculty are rethinking and restructuring key gateway courses at scale to improve outcomes for all learners.
- Implementation of an Adult Student Success Grant that expands wraparound support—such as enhanced online tutoring and other resources—to strengthen success for adult learners.
- Awarding academic credit for industry-recognized credentials and providing comprehensive basic-needs support to students, illustrating Bay College’s commitment to building a truly student-ready culture.
Bay College President Dr. Nerita Hughes said, “The Endurance Award is a direct reflection of Bay College’s dedication and commitment to access, equity, and student success. Through innovative partnerships, holistic student supports, and a relentless focus on retention, persistence, completion, and post-completion, we are shaping pathways that change lives and strengthen our region. We are grateful to MCAN for recognizing this shared commitment to Michigan’s future.”
Significance for the Region
The recognition of Bay College underlines the institution’s leadership role in the Upper Peninsula, demonstrating how regional colleges can tackle barriers to student success with creativity, collaboration, and compassion. By removing obstacles, supporting adult learners, embracing credential-recognition, and embedding wrap-around supports, Bay College is contributing meaningfully to improving the educational landscape in Michigan.
Looking Ahead
With this award, Bay College affirms its commitment to continuing and expanding its student-ready initiatives, fostering success from enrollment through completion and beyond. The institution looks forward to further collaborations, innovations, and measurable gains in student outcomes across its service area.
About MCAN and the Sixty by 30 Initiative
MCAN is a statewide network committed to increasing postsecondary access and attainment, and helping Michigan reach its goal of having 60% of working-age adults hold a postsecondary credential by 2030. The College Access Impact Awards reflect MCAN’s focus on partnerships, innovation, and measurable outcomes in service of that goal. Learn more at micollegeaccess.org
About Bay College
Bay College is the community’s college with a mission of: Student Success, Community Success. Culture of Success. Bay is devoted to each individual’s achievement in the classroom, on-campus, online, in the community and into the workforce by providing certificates and associate degrees, transfer credits to universities, and workforce training programs which develop skillsets and advance careers. #BayIsTheWay