LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University announced that the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board have awarded Marie Meckel, assistant professor in Physician Assistant Studies, a Fulbright Specialist Grant.

With this award, Meckel will partner with the Wa West District Health Administration, Ghana Health Service, to launch a cervical cancer screening and prevention initiative. The project is designed to exchange knowledge, foster partnerships, and expand access to preventive healthcare in underserved communities.

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in low-resource settings, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. In Ghana, more than 3,000 women are diagnosed annually, and nearly 2,000 die — often due to late-stage diagnoses. To address this urgent need, Meckel’s two-week project this month will feature four community outreach events offering free cervical cancer screenings, HPV vaccinations, and health education to women in remote villages.

Meckel joins more than 400 U.S. citizens each year who share expertise with host institutions abroad through the Fulbright Specialist Program. Specialists are selected for their academic and professional accomplishments, leadership in their fields, and potential to build lasting international collaborations.

The Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange initiative, operates in more than 160 countries and has supported more than 400,000 scholars, teachers, scientists, and professionals since 1946. Alumni include Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, as well as heads of state, who have contributed to advancing solutions to shared global challenges.

LONGMEADOW — Building on more than a decade of innovation in online education, Bay Path University has launched Bay Path Online, expanding online undergraduate degree programs to both men and women.

For more than 10 years, Bay Path’s online undergraduate program, the American Women’s College (TAWC), exclusively served adult women. In contrast, Cambridge College’s online program, Cambridge College Global, was open to both men and women. Following Bay Path’s acquisition of Cambridge College in June 2024, the two programs were integrated to form Bay Path Online, marking a new chapter in the university’s online undergraduate offerings.

Bay Path launched the TAWC program in 2013 to provide accessible, affordable education through an innovative approach that included wraparound support and evidence-based practices to help students complete their degrees. The program received a $3.5 million First in the World grant from the U.S. Department of Education in recognition of its pioneering high-tech, high-touch model. Since its inception, TAWC consistently yielded retention and graduation rates that are significantly higher than comparable online programs.

“Our acquisition of Cambridge College has positioned us for growth, and we’re seizing the opportunity to bring our success with delivering a unique, supportive approach that centers adult learners to a broader, larger community,” said Sandra Doran, president of Bay Path University and Cambridge College.

“TAWC routinely exhibited high retention and graduation rates and received awards for its career-focused degree programs and student support services, but it was difficult for us to partner with many organizations because the program was not available to their male employees,” Doran added. “Now, through our integration with Cambridge, opening our online undergraduate program to all motivated learners allows us to play a bigger role during this era of workforce reinvention.”

Bay Path Online offers self-paced courses in seven-week terms, with the flexibility learners need to balance school, work, family, and other responsibilities, while also providing proactive student support in areas such as academic advising, career planning, financial aid, and mental health counseling services.

With administrative headquarters in Longmeadow and Boston, Bay Path Online is positioned to serve learners and partners across Massachusetts and beyond, offering more than 25 online, accelerated, career-focused programs. All programs are aligned with workforce needs and designed to give learners various options and pathways to continually build upon their experiences; gain credentials, certifications, and degrees; and advance their careers.

The Cambridge College Boston campus continues to offer the option of hybrid, in-person experiences for students who prefer that modality. Bay Path’s Longmeadow campus will continue as a traditional, in-person college for undergraduate women.

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University invites prospective graduate students to its upcoming virtual graduate open house, Pathway to Possibilities: Career Readiness, on Tuesday, Oct. 7 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

The event will introduce attendees to Bay Path’s master’s and doctoral programs, highlighting how they prepare graduates for today’s competitive workforce while connecting them to information, resources, and guidance to help plan their educational journey. The program will showcase Bay Path’s distinctive approach to graduate education, which blends academic rigor, career-focused learning, and personalized support to help students advance their careers, change fields, or deepen expertise.

“Our graduate programs are built to meet students where they are and help them get where they want to be. They’re flexible, collaborative, and taught by industry professionals who bring subject matter expertise and real-world experience to their courses,” said Jana O’Connell, senior director of Graduate Admissions. “The Pathway to Possibilities open house is a chance to see how Bay Path prepares graduates for success in today’s evolving workforce.”

The event is free and open to all prospective graduate students. Registration is required. Click here for registration and additional information.