Community college officials in Michigan are advocating for a law that would allow their schools to offer bachelor's degrees.

According to the Detroit Free Press, the Michigan Community College Association will hold a legislative conference on November 4 in Lansing, where representatives will meet with state lawmakers. A bill that is currently in the Senate - after the House passed it in September - will allow two-year colleges to add four-year degrees in concrete technology, maritime technology, culinary arts and nursing if it is passed.

The news provider reports that Michigan's four-year universities are opposed to the idea, but community college leaders argue that the new degrees are needed to expand opportunities for students in high-demand fields.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects the number of job opportunities for culinary professionals to increase by 6 percent over the next eight years. The bureau reports that there will be a need for more qualified individuals to oversee food preparation as more Americans opt for the time-saving option of having others cook their meals.