Northern Michigan University and Bay College partner for Early Childhood Education Transfer Pathway

Northern Michigan University and Bay College have formed a partnership to expand access to education for individuals pursuing early childhood education careers. The 3+1 transfer pathway will create a streamlined path for students to earn their associate degree and bachelor degree in early childhood education and presents the opportunity to earn a birth-to-kindergarten teaching certificate.

According to an article on Northern Michigan University’s website, Tammra Houseman, who serves as the coordinator for Early Childhood Education at Bay College, was quoted as saying of the partnership, “This partnership reflects a shared commitment to meeting the unique needs of our early childhood workforce. Bay College's ECE program is built around flexible, accessible learning for working professionals. NMU embraced that model with the 3+1 transfer pathway. By allowing students to complete their coursework virtually and their student teaching locally, we effectively bust through the barriers of traditional teacher prep. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue strengthening Michigan's early childhood workforce by expanding our graduates' access to a bachelor's degree and making it possible for them to remain rooted in the communities they love and serve.”

Faculty from both Northern Michigan University and Bay College worked together to create the pathway program. Both the associate degree and bachelor degree program include field placements and internships, as well as a combination of online learning and in-person, hands-on learning.

Chris Olsen, the president of Northern Michigan University, said, “I'm pleased that Northern can collaborate with Bay College, a fellow U.P. institution of higher education, on this exciting 3+1 teacher preparation program. Being new to Northern, I was impressed to learn that this program uses a competency-based education model that offers credit for prior learning, a fact that will be attractive to many adult learners who now seek a bachelor's degree in education. That the program also offers potentially significant cost savings as well as streamlined access to NMU resources are great benefits to students who enroll.”

Bay College's Early Childhood Education program is the only Competency-Based Education (CBE) teacher preparation program in the state. Students will be able to complete their programs more flexibly and CBE teacher preparation is particularly useful for individuals who are already working in the field.

Jessica Van Slooten, the Dean of Arts and Sciences at Bay College, said, “I am excited for students to have access to this pathway, which allows them an affordable way to build their credentials in the field of early childhood education. We know there is an ongoing need for high-quality educators and caregivers in our region and beyond, and this partnership allows students to enhance their credentials and increase their earning potential.”

Bay College President Nerita Hughes said, "This is what transformation looks like—our institutions coming together to remove obstacles and create opportunity. Through this articulation agreement, we are redefining access, strengthening our talent pipeline, and elevating the impact of early childhood education across the Upper Peninsula."

For more information about Northern Michigan University, visit the school’s website.

For more information about Bay College, visit the school’s website.