ESCANABA — Enrollment at Bay College for the fall 2020 semester has not been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The college announced a 3 percent increase in contact hours and a 1 percent increase in student headcount compared to the fall 2019 semester.

“We could not be more pleased about that — it’s really an exciting thing for us,” Bay College President Laura Coleman said of this increase.

The fall 2020 semester began on Aug. 17 and will continue through Nov. 25. As of Sept. 2, Bay College had a total of 1,782 students enrolled in 18,034 contact hours this semester. At the equivalent point in the fall 2019 semester, the college had 1,759 students enrolled in 17,593 contact hours.

Bay is the only community college in Michigan that has seen enrollment increase for the fall 2020 semester. according to college officials.

“This is a tough year — people want to be back in school, but they’re nervous,” Coleman said.

She attributed Bay’s success to the confidence its students have in the college’s response to COVID-19 and the variety of options students have. About 40 percent of Bay’s classes are being held online, and all in-person classes offer some form of virtual or online availability.

Vice President of Student Services Travis Blume addressed the steps Bay has taken to respond to the pandemic.

“We have made every effort to ensure that students have a safe return to learning on campus this semester. And should it be necessary to return to fully online instruction and learning, our staff and faculty are well prepared to continue to teach our students,” he said.

Coleman thanked Bay’s faculty and staff for making the college’s return to in-person learning during the fall 2020 semester possible.

“Everybody has worked very, very hard and diligently as a team to make sure that we were a good place for students to be this fall,” she said.

She also said she has been glad Bay is able to hold in-person classes again.

“It’s just really wonderful to see everybody,” Coleman said.

For more information, visit www.baycollege.edu.