New Era at Lake Michigan College Marked by Grand Opening of First On-Campus Residence Hall

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Beckwith Hall represents a new way of looking at and thinking about Lake Michigan College, stated LMC President Dr. Robert Harrison.

Benton Township, MI (PRWEB) July 14, 2014

A new era at Lake Michigan College was launched Friday, July 11 when faculty, staff, students, and community members celebrated the ribbon cutting and grand opening of Beckwith Hall, the first on-campus student housing facility in the College’s 68-year history.

LMC, which is the seventh community college in Michigan to offer on-campus housing, will welcome residents this fall. The facility is attracting students from within the College’s district, as well as from other parts of Michigan, and other states and countries.

“Beckwith Hall represents a new way of looking at and thinking about Lake Michigan College,” stated LMC President Dr. Robert Harrison. “With this addition to our comprehensive collection of academic programs, services, cultural offerings, and intercollegiate athletics, we are expanding our role as the center for learning and higher education in the region.”

The apartment-style complex, which will be home for up to 188 students, fills an ever-growing gap in the higher education landscape. The four-year university path has become financially out of reach for many students seeking the independence that campus living provides. With on-campus housing, LMC now becomes an option that provides the experience of living away from home, yet near family and friends, while delivering affordability and a high-quality education.

“This builds on our mission of educational accessibility by expanding who we are able to serve and how we are able to serve them,” stated Dr. David Maysick, chairman of the LMC Board of Trustees. “Learning is a social process and Beckwith Hall will become an extension of the learning environment that is thriving at Lake Michigan College.”

Studies conducted by the American Council on Education show that students who live on campus are more likely to achieve their academic goals, including degree completion and higher grade point averages. They also have enhanced confidence and self-reliance, and build leadership and teamwork skills through increased involvement in extracurricular activities.

LMC has designed Beckwith Hall with those goals in mind. Throughout the facility, small alcoves provide students with space to work and study in groups. Technological resources, faculty-led workshops and study sessions, and campus life opportunities will bring the classroom to the residence hall.

“We are thinking differently about how we can engage learners, about the cultural offerings we make available, and the extracurricular activities that are so important to the college experience,” stated Dr. Clint Gabbard, vice president of Student Services. “This will broaden campus and academic life for all of our students, whether they are living on or off campus.”

The residence hall is named for Dr. Clarence G. Beckwith, who was the first dean of the Junior College of Benton Harbor, the predecessor of today’s Lake Michigan College. The institution opened in 1946 with a faculty of eight. When it became Benton Harbor Community College and Technical Institute in 1954, Dr. Beckwith assumed the role of president. Benton Harbor Community College and Technical Institute became Lake Michigan College in 1964 with a county-wide vote to create a community college district.

Beckwith Hall will accommodate up to 188 students in fully-furnished, 2- and 4-bedroom apartments with private, secure access to each room. Residents will enjoy amenities including full kitchens, in-unit washers and dryers, 42” flat-panel televisions, free Wi-Fi service, and a fitness center to help provide a well-rounded student experience. A detailed description of the new community is provided with this press release as a PDF file.

Management of the new residence hall will be through a shared-governance arrangement with Capstone On-Campus Management (COCM) who will partner with the College in managing operations and residence life services.

“Capstone On-Campus is honored to be a part of this exciting time in the College’s history. Providing the opportunity for students to live on-campus during their higher education experience can have a profound impact on their success and future,” said Doug Brown, president of COCM.

Housing is contracted through individual leases and some assistance through financial aid and scholarships may be available for qualified students. For more information about housing applications and leases for fall, contact the Lake Michigan College Housing Office at (269) 927-8702 or visit the housing website at http://livingatlmc.lakemichigancollege.edu.

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About Lake Michigan College
Lake Michigan College is a 2-year community college located in southwest Michigan with annual fall enrollment of 4,200 students. It offers associate degrees, an applied science baccalaureate degree, and one-year certificates in more than 100 transfer and career areas of study at the Napier Avenue Campus in Benton Township, Bertrand Crossing Campus in Niles, South Haven Campus, and M-TEC facility in Benton Harbor. LMC offers career and technical education programs in health care, business, advanced manufacturing, energy production, hospitality, and computers information systems. Students may also pursue Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees that transfer readily to four-year colleges and universities.

About Capstone On-Campus
Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, Capstone On-Campus is a company of housing professionals specializing in the management of student housing communities either owned by non-profit entities (colleges, universities, and foundations) or highly affiliated with same. With a current portfolio of 24,384 beds at 26 campuses nationwide, Capstone On-Campus is the leading manager of on-campus or university-affiliated housing. For more information about Capstone On-Campus Management, visit http://www.capstoneoncampus.com and http://www.studenthousingmatters.com.

Media Contacts:
Laura Kraklau, Executive Director, Marketing & Communications
Lake Michigan College
(269) 927-8198; kraklau(at)lakemichigancollege(dot)edu

Alton C. Irwin, MAI/LEED® AP, Chief Marketing Officer
Capstone On-Campus Management
(205) 414-6417; airwin(at)capstoneoncampus(dot)com

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