Facilities

Bay Mills Community College started operating out of the basement of the tribal office in 1981, with an initial enrollment of eleven students.  Since that time the College has experienced tremendous growth; both in terms of students and facilities.  The first college building was the closed fish processing plant leased to BMCC in 1984 by the Bay Mills Indian Community with the five acres on which it was located. This building has been completely remodeled and is now being used as the main Administrative building. The site is still our main campus and includes the dorms, library and Mikanuk Hall.

In 1993, ten dormitory units were constructed on the BMCC campus for use by students.  The dorms were managed by the College until 2005, at which time they were turned over to the Bay Mills Housing Authority.  They are currently being offered as rental units, with tribal members given first preference.

In June of 2000, BMCC completed the construction of a new Library/Heritage Center. This two and half story 5,300 square foot log building is the college/community library, which also houses the TRIO Student Support Services Administrative office, TRIO computer lab, the Communication Department staff, and Heritage Center. The Heritage Center, located in the loft of this new facility, contains the James O’Keene family collection of Native American artifacts.

In the fall of 2003, the main campus classroom building was opened for use. Mikanuk Hall houses six classrooms, science lab, Academic Administration and Faculty offices, and a commons area for students.  We have a well equipped modern science laboratory, while other classrooms have laptop computers with high speed internet access at each desk.  Each classroom is fully equipped with DVD/VCR equipment, televisions, ELMO devices, and instructor laptops connected to audiovisual equipment.  SMARTBOARDS have been purchased which allow instructors to interact with a 60 inch computer screen using pointing devices, mouse, keyboard, or simply a finger.  Included software allows for recording of sessions as well as character recognition.  Another project aimed at enhancing student learning is the purchase of Turning Point technology.  This consists of remote devices distributed to each student at the start of class.  Instructors use the attached wireless receiver to first display or ask a question of the class then students can reply by using the wireless remote transmitter.  This technology emboldens students by providing interactive anonymous feedback.

In the fall of 2004, BMCC successfully completed construction of a new 3,000 square foot facility at its west campus to house its new building technology associates degree program.  The Building Trades facility houses classrooms and offices, as well as a shop specific to construction technology.  Also located in the Building Trades facility is the office of the Director of Research.

In 2007, BMCC completed construction of the Migizi Hall which is a 13,000 square foot facility located on the west campus site. Migizi Hall houses language and cultural programs for both BMCC and the Bay Mills Indian Community.  This facility has a 3,400 square foot conference area which can be cordoned off into 5 classrooms, a full commercial kitchen, both men’s and women’s dormitory rooms sleeping 28, and 3 offices and a large conference room. 

A building project that is scheduled for completion in June 2008 is the Great Lakes Composite Institute.  The Institute will be located on the corner of I-75 and M-28, adjacent to Great Lakes Composites which is a thermoplastic composites business enterprise operated by the Bay Mills Indian Community.  The Institute will perform testing, training, and research and development in support of the business enterprise.  BMCC students will have the opportunity to enroll in plastic composites classes and participate in job shadowing and/or internship opportunities, with job placement as the ultimate goal.

Plans for the future include moving the existing dormitory buildings off of the main college campus to make room for a new Administrative facility.