By Angeline Boulley

Ahniin! Thinking about college? Here are ten reasons to consider Bay Mills Community College.

1.   Close Location – The main campus is located in Brimley, only 20 miles from Sault Ste. Marie. Their new west campus building (at I-75 and M-28) is even closer. In addition, each semester at least two classes are offered in Sault Ste. Marie through an agreement between the Sault Tribe and BMCC. Please check for upcoming classes either through the Sault Tribe website, Sault Tribe Higher Education page on Facebook, or by calling 906‑635‑7784.

2.   Convenient Transportation – BMCC now offers low-cost bus transportation with three daily routes that include multiple stops in Sault Ste. Marie. Discounted multi-punch cards and reduced rates for elders. See website for costs and schedules.

3.   High Quality – BMCC is Michigan’s first fully accredited, tribally-controlled community college. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and is a member of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium.

4.   Affordable Cost – Tuition is $95 per credit hour, which is considerably less than the rate charged elsewhere. To compare with other local institutions, it is $397.50 per credit hour at Lake Superior State University and $336 per credit hour at Northern Michigan University.

5.   Native Student Focus – BMCC is a tribally-controlled community college. Native students comprise 54% of the total student enrollment (712/1307 for the 2012-13 school year). By the way, Sault Tribe members comprise 35% of the Native student body and 19% of the total student body.

6.   Supportive Student Services – The staff and faculty at BMCC do an outstanding job in helping students to have a successful college experience. There are numerous services, activities, and referrals available including peer tutoring, career development, traditional guidance, talking circles, faculty/student liaison, disability student services, student leadership development, and college transfer assistance.

7.   Friendly Registration Process - If you anticipate a complicated and intimidating process to enroll for college classes, please be assured that BMCC walks you through the process step-by-step in a friendly, helpful manner. It is a well-organized process that generally takes a half-day to complete and includes financial aid, placement testing, and class scheduling. Please call ahead to verify the dates and times available, and to double-check what types of information to bring with you. The phone number at BMCC is 906‑248‑3354.

8.   Variety of Degrees, Certificates, and Diplomas – BMCC offers fifteen (15) different Associates degrees in such areas as General Studies, Early Childhood Education Teacher Preparation, Computer Information Systems, Construction Technology, and Great Lakes Native American Studies. Please see website for complete listing and additional information. BMCC also offers ten (10) certificates and two Diploma programs. Whether you are looking to try a new career or strengthen the skills you already utilize, BMCC has course offerings to help you meet your personal and professional goals.

9.   Convenient Online Courses – In addition to classes offered on campus and at satellite locations in Sault Ste. Marie and Petoskey, BMCC has an extensive number of online classes. Online classes work well for students juggling the demands of work and family, who may have difficulty scheduling a traditional face-to-face college class. It is possible to complete an entire degree online, including the registration process.

10.   Board of Regents Scholarship – For enrolled members of federally-recognized Indian tribes, students may qualify for the Board of Regents scholarship which waives tuition costs for up to 60 credit hours. Please note: at least half of the credit hours must be completed on campus. Also: students are still responsible for fees and other non-tuition expenses such as books.

If you are ready to pursue a college degree, certificate, or diploma and you are interested in Bay Mills Community College, please visit their website at www.bmcc.edu or call 906‑248‑3354. The main campus is located at 12214 W. Lakeshore Drive, Brimley, MI 49715.

This article was written by Angeline Boulley, Assistant Executive Director for Sault Tribe. She also serves on the Board of Regents for Bay Mills Community College.