Michigan 2-year colleges now can offer bachelor's degrees

A bill to allow community colleges to offer four bachelor's degrees is among 22 bills signed into law Friday.

Public Act 495 will allow the state's 28 community colleges to offer baccalaureate degrees in energy production, concrete technology, maritime technology and culinary arts. Nursing was originally on the list but was dropped in an amended version of the bill.

Gov. Rick Snyder also signed a bill to protect the privacy of workers' and students' social media accounts.

Supporters of the schooling bill, including the Michigan Community College Association, said the change will help fill a need in the workforce and make college degrees more affordable and accessible to students.

But critics, including universities, have argued the move will create duplication and hurt collaboration between community colleges and universities.


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