Lake Michigan College

Lake Michigan College is a regional two-year community college in Berrien County, Michigan. The main campus is in Benton Township, Michigan, USA, on U.S. Highway 31 (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 St. Joseph Valley Parkway (US 31) to the east. Alongside the main academic building, the Mendel Center for Arts and Technology, a multipurpose theater and facility, the Hanson Technology Center, and student housing at Beckwith Hall are featured on the main campus. Lake Michigan College was founded as Benton Harbor Junior College in 1946 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.