Lake Michigan College is a regional two-year community college located in Berrien County, Michigan. The main campus is located in Benton Township, Michigan, on US-31/Napier Avenue, and regional campuses are located in Benton Harbor, Bertrand Crossing (Niles), and South Haven. The main campus is bordered by two major highways: Interstate 94 to the west and the US-31 freeway to the east. The Mendel Center for Arts and Technology, a multipurpose theater and facility, is at the main campus.
[edit] History
Lake Michigan College was founded as Benton Harbor Junior College in 1946[1][3] within the city of Benton Harbor when voters approved an initiative to create a junior college. In 1954 Benton Harbor Junior College was redesigned into the Benton Harbor Community College and Technical Institute (CCTI). In 1963 a vote in Berrien County was held and affirmed to plan to create a county college district. A tax of up to one mill was approved for operation and building needs and a six person board of trustees was established as the governing body of the college. CCTI was renamed again in 1964 to Lake Michigan College. Construction on the Napier Avenue Campus, which is now the main campus, began in 1965 when the board of trustees approved the purchase of a 259-acre (1.05 km2) parcel of land in Benton Township.[2]
[edit] Campuses
None of the campuses currently have living quarters.[7] A Western Michigan University-Southwest extension can be found on the Napier Avenue Campus.[8][9] The South Haven campus was completed in 2003 after South Haven School District residents vote to join the Lake Michigan College district, the M-TEC training facility was completed in 2000 and the Bertrand Crossing campus in 1998.[2] After a proposed millage failed, the board of trustees put the M-TEC facility up for sale in 2008.[10]
[edit] Athletics
Lake Michigan College is a member of the NJCAA Region 12[6] and the MCCAA Western Division[1]. The current Athletic Director is Jason Cooper. Sam Cornett is the current head men's basketball coach. Doug Schaffer, former Athletic Director and Head Coach, was named Michigan Community College Athletic Association Athletic Director of the Year for 2005[11]. The men's basketball team placed 7th in the nation in 2005. Lake Michigan College also has baseball, softball, and volleyball teams. The baseball and softball teams are very successful, having placed very high in the nation in consecutive years. Detroit Tigers pitcher Duane Below pitched for the baseball team in 2005-06. The biggest rivals of Lake Michigan College are the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Cougars and the Ancilla College Chargers.[citation needed]
[edit] References
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