In an email release, the college announced that the Lakeland College Board of Trustees voted unanimously to change the institution’s name to Lakeland University at its May 28 meeting. This change is subject to the board’s final review and approval of a transition plan in spring 2016. The name change will be effective July 1, 2016.

In an interview with The Mirror in January, President of Lakeland College Dan Eck said the college was considering the name change to attract more international students. In other countries, “college” has a less prestigious connotation than “university.” Additionally, Eck said the name change may end the public’s confusion when it comes to Lakeland College and Lakeshore Technical College (LTC).

“We have to make sure that if we do this, we don’t forget what makes Lakeland special: the faculty-student connection, the small campus feel and the ability for students to get experience they can’t get at larger campuses,” Eck said. “If we would lose that, that’s not a great thing, no matter what our name is.”