BENTON HARBOR — Lake Michigan College is aiming to expand instructional space on its Benton Harbor campus by acquiring the lease for Western Michigan University’s Southwest regional location.

If approved, the deal will preserve existing education options for area students while advancing both of the institutions’ plans for expansion.

On Sept. 20, LMC’s Board of Trustees voted to move forward on a request to transfer a long-term lease agreement with the state of Michigan to LMC, at a cost of $2.7 million. The WMU Board of Trustees agreed to move the proposal forward at its own Sept. 20 meeting. The state must approve the transfer in order to finalize the deal.

Acquiring the facility would enable LMC to save at least $3.5 million on its planned campus renovations and provide an alternative space to maintain operations during the construction phase. The savings will free up additional resources to make updates on all three LMC campuses.

For WMU, the agreement would allow the University to redirect the $2.7 million paid to WMU by LMC into a planned and needed expansion of its College of Aviation facilities.

“This is a win-win for everyone,” said LMC President Trevor A. Kubatzke. “Local students maintain access to high quality, affordable higher education close to home, while our institutions work together to maximize resources and use our existing spaces more efficiently.”

The agreement will not affect students’ ability to continue attending WMU classes on LMC’s Benton Harbor campus. Arrangements have been made for a 10-year, no-cost lease agreement for WMU’s continued use of classrooms and office space on the Benton Harbor campus, with an option to extend for another five years.

“WMU offers and will continue to offer both graduate and undergraduate degree programs through the combination of online and in-person formats that have become the norm. LMC will gain the physical space it needs to grow and renovate its campus,” said WMU Vice President for Business and Finance Jan Van Der Kley, in presenting the proposed resolution to the WMU board.

In 2015, LMC began planning updates to all three of its campuses, which are located in South Haven, Benton Harbor and Niles. These updates are funded by private donations, a $7.9 million state grant and a 10-year capital millage proposal approved by district voters in November 2016.

Plans are still being finalized, but LMC envisions the newly acquired facility would house a dedicated space for students in LMC’s business and computing programs as well as provide additional space for student receptions and public events.

“The rationale behind this decision was first and foremost what is best for area students who rely on both of our institutions, but also LMC’s responsibility to be frugal with the public dollars we have to leverage,” said Kubatzke. “For a fraction of what it would cost to build, we are securing a beautiful space in great condition that is designed for learning. We’re grateful to WMU for making this possible and for their dedication to students in southwest Michigan.”

Western Michigan University began offering academic programs in the Benton Harbor/St. Joseph area in 1916 and has maintained a physical presence in the region since 1966.

In 2002, construction of the 40,000-square-foot WMU-Southwest facility was completed on the Lake Michigan College campus in Benton Harbor, marking the first time a Michigan university had built an instructional facility on a community college campus.

This unique partnership has expanded higher education opportunities for southwest Michigan residents by allowing students to transfer LMC credits toward WMU bachelor’s and graduate degrees without leaving the area. The arrangement also allows for the sharing of library, bookstore and other key resources for students.

Currently, six degree programs are offered through WMU-Southwest. Students can earn undergraduate degrees in business administration, elementary education and social work. Graduate level programs are offered in educational leadership, practice of teaching and social work.