ESCANABA — Bay College Faculty and Administration are pleased to announce the successful completion of a new three-year contract agreement. The contract was finalized after eight months of collaborative negotiations, led by Chief Negotiators Amber Kinonen, President of the Faculty Association, and Dr. Amy Reddinger, Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Notably, the contract process played a pivotal role. The team engaged in a very different way of negotiating – leaning fully into interest-based bargaining – and worked without the benefit of a mediator who took a federal retirement early in the process.

Amber Kinonen remarked, “Dr. Reddinger and I agreed early on to set aside focusing strictly on contract language and take a more collaborative, classroom-style approach — using mixed small groups of faculty and administrators to brainstorm solutions. This led to more meaningful changes and a positive, compromise-driven experience.”

Bay College President, Dr. Nerita Hughes commented that, “We are very proud of what we were able to accomplish in this process and in the resulting contract. We believe this is a win for our institution and for our students.”

Highlights of the new contract include:

– The use of booking software to ease the process of students connecting with instructors

– The creation of positions to better support part-time instructors

– Shifting professional development days to a teaching and learning conference and improved overall professional development

– Increasing and broadening professional development funds

– Clearer communication guidelines from instructors for students

– Additional support for instructors participating in the tenure process

– Wage and step increases

This agreement reflects Bay College’s shared commitment to fostering a supportive, innovative, and student-centered learning environment. Through open dialogue and creative problem-solving, faculty and administration have built a path forward that supports instructors, enriches the student experience, and strengthens the Bay College community for years to come.