The college has recently formed articulation agreements with Keweenaw Bay Ojibwe Community College and Lake Superior State University to create transfer pathways for Early Childhood Education students.
Bay Mills Community College has announced two new articulation agreements it has recently signed with Keweenaw Bay Ojibwe Community College and Lake Superior State University to create seamless transfer pathways for individuals who are pursuing a degree in early childhood education. The two agreements were signed in late November 2025 and early January 2026, respectively, and will help prepare more individuals to work in the high-demand career of early childhood education.
According to an article on Bay Mills Community College’s website that describes the agreement with Keweenaw Bay Ojibwe Community College, Heather Stelzer, who serves as the BMCC Department Chair, was quoted as saying of the new articulation agreement, “This articulation strengthens pathways for students to pursue education rooted in their culture and community. It ensures that current and future early childhood educators are supported, connected, and empowered to bring culturally grounded care to the next generation.”
The partnership between Bay Mills Community College and Keweenaw Bay Ojibwe Community College will give Keweenaw Bay Ojibwe Community College students the ability to seamlessly transfer 58-59 credits into Bay Mills Community College’s Bachelor of Arts program in Early Childhood Education program, addressing the need for well-qualified teachers in tribal and rural settings.
Megan Haataja, the Interim President and Dean of Academic Affairs at Keweenaw Bay Ojibwe Community College, said, “This agreement provides our students with a seamless pathway to continue their education after KBOCC while remaining close to home and supported by the systems they trust. It also strengthens the early childhood workforce at a time when our communities greatly need qualified professionals to serve local children and families.”
Dr. Duane Bedell, BMCC’s president, shared his enthusiasm for the partnership, saying, “I’m thrilled to see us working together to strengthen Tribal higher education and grow the early childhood workforce. This is how we invest in our future: one student, one family, one community at a time.”
In a separate article on Bay Mills Community College’s website outlining the new articulation agreement with Lake Superior State University, Dr. Bedell is quoted as saying, “This partnership between Bay Mills Community College and Lake Superior State University demonstrates our unwavering commitment to the communities we serve. By working together, we are creating opportunities that strengthen education and support families across the region. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the dedicated team whose hard work and collaboration made this initiative possible."
This new articulation agreement will give Bay Mills Community College students the ability to participate in a 3+1 transfer pathway, completing three years of early childhood education classes at the community college before transferring to the university for their final year of education, which will earn them both a bachelor degree and a Michigan Birth-to-Kindergarten general and special education teaching certification.
Students will attend Bay Mills Community College primarily online, and once transferred to Lake Superior State University, will also attend courses online or in a hybrid format. Students who embark on the 3+1 transfer pathway will receive guidance and support from both institutions throughout their entire journey.
Becky Davis, an LSSU faculty member with expertise in Early Childhood Education, said, “Michigan has moved beyond the outdated divide between qualified and certified early childhood teachers. The Michigan Department of Education now recognizes that young children need educators who are both. Teachers trained in early childhood development and developmentally appropriate practice - especially for children with special needs - provide the strong social, emotional, and academic foundation children need to succeed.”
Jennifer Fager, PhD, who serves as the Chair of the LSSU School of Education and the Associate Dean, said, “We hope this creative and unique program will serve as a catalyst for other teacher preparation programs. It is a model for collaborative partnerships that address teacher shortages, particularly in rural communities, by preparing educators where they live.”
While this is not the first articulation agreement that exists between Bay Mills Community College and Lake Superior State University, it is the first focused on early childhood education that culminates in a teaching certification.
For more information about Bay Mills Community College, visit the school’s website.