ESCANABA — After closing its Escanaba campus to the public earlier this year in response to COVID-19, Bay has put plans in place to resume normal business over the coming months. Members of the Bay College Board of Trustees heard about the college’s re-opening plans during the board’s regular meeting Monday.

According to Bay College President Laura Coleman, Bay employees have already returned to campus in a limited capacity.

“They will be back on campus in full force July 27,” Coleman said.

The college will be open by appointment starting today — Wednesday, June 24. Limited doors are open at the campus, and visitors are required to wear masks and fill out a questionnaire before entering the building.

Bay students will begin moving into their apartments in August. Student athletes will move in on Aug. 13, and other students will move in Aug. 14-16.

The fall 2020 semester will start on Aug. 17 — two weeks ahead of schedule. Bay is planning on holding classes in person this fall. Online classes will also be offered, as is normally the case.

However, public events will not be held at Bay until at least Jan. 1, 2021. This is due to the fact that space at the Joseph Heirman University Center, Cafe Bay and the Besse Center will be used for classes.

Coleman said she and other Bay employees are glad to be getting back to business as usual.

“We’re just really excited to start seeing our students and serving the public,” she said.