By Laura Weber
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-924118.mp3
Lansing, MI – Michigan's community colleges may soon offer some bachelor's degrees. The state House has approved a measure that would allow community colleges to offer the four-year degrees in four fields: maritime studies; cement technology; culinary arts and nursing.
Democratic state Representative Joel Sheltrown says he expects the nursing and culinary degree programs to be popular.
Sheltrown says, "Culinary is certainly growing and the nursing was the key element. We wouldn't have a problem at all with this if we would have eliminated BSN programs. However, that's where we had the greatest need."
The problem Sheltrown mentioned was push-back from universities that say offering these degrees at community colleges could hurt existing four-year programs. The measure now moves to the state Senate.