Southwestern Michigan College is a public community college. The main campus is near Dowagiac, Michigan and the Niles Campus is located just outside the city limits of Niles, Michigan.
Academics
Southwestern Michigan College offers Associate in Applied Science degrees in Accounting, Agricultural Technology, Automotive Technology, Business, Construction Trades Green Technology, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, Engineering Technology, Fire Science, Graphic Design Technology, Health Information Technology, Industrial Technology, Information Technology (Application Development and Networking), Mechatronics Technology, Medical Assisting, Professional Communication Nursing (RN and LPN to RN), Social Work and Sports Management. They also offer Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees in Business; Communication; Education; Environmental and Life Science; Medical Pre-Professional; Music; Science, Engineering and Math; Psychology Social Science; and Visual Arts.
Southwestern Michigan College offers certificate programs in Automotive Technology, Construction Trades Green Technology, Electrocardiogram (ECG) Technician, Elementary Education, Emergency Medical Technician, Fire Science, General Education, Information Technology (Help Desk and System Administrator), Mechatronics Technology, Medical Assisting-Clinical, Medical Assisting-Office, Medical First Responder, Nursing Assistant (CNA), Practical Nursing LPN, Office Assistant/Specialist, Phlebotomy, Small Business Management/Entrepreneurship, Tribal Leadership and Welding Technology.
Southwestern Michigan College offers bachelor's degrees on the Dowagiac campus through partnerships with Ferris State University. The Ferris programs offer students an advantage by allowing them to take three years of classes at SMC's low tuition and pay only one year of the university's tuition.
Michigan State University’s Institute of Agricultural Technology (IAT) in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) has partnered with Southwestern Michigan College in a unique way to help students earn an MSU certificate while also working towards an associate degree. Students take at least 21 credits from SMC which are recognized by MSU toward completion of a certificate, thus significantly lowering the overall program cost to students.
Ferris State University at Southwestern Michigan College bachelor's degrees
Accountancy/Public Accounting
Business Administration
Business Administration/Professional Track
Computer Information Systems
Computer Information Technology/Systems Administration and Security
Criminal Justice
Human Resource Management
History
Southwestern Michigan College was founded on November 19, 1964 after the voters of Cass County, Michigan approved a 1.5 million dollar tax levy to fund a Cass County Community College. On September 12, 1965 ground was broken for the main campus in Dowagiac, Michigan. Classes began at Southwestern Michigan College in September 1966. The college is located three miles (5Â km) outside of Dowagiac, Michigan city limits. Their sports teams were nicknamed the "Roadrunners" before SMC dropped sports in 1998. Intramural sports are still popular on campus, however, and the Roadrunner moniker is still used.
Main campus
Currently the Main Campus houses 10 buildings:
- Jan and A.C Kairis Building
- Barbara Wood Building
- Charles O. Zollar Sports Complex
- Dale A. Lyons Building
- Foster W. Daugherty Building
- Fred L. Mathews Library and Conference Center
- Keith H. McKenzie Hall (Student Housing)
- William M. White Hall (Student Housing)
- Thomas F. Jerdon Hall (Student Housing)
- David C. Briegel Building
- William P.D. O'Leary Building
Student Activity Center
The Student Activity Center is the center of campus life. It houses a fitness center, gymnasium, racquetball courts, rock climbing gym, resistance pools, cafe, student theater, and game room complete with pool, foosball, Ping Pong, arcade games, and video games. All student facilities and events are free for all students. Community members can also buy memberships or day passes to the fitness center.
Satellite campus
In July 1992 the Niles Campus opened with a new 25,000-square-foot (2,300Â m2) facility, located just outside the city limits of Niles, Michigan. In 1999 a 22,000-square-foot (2,000Â m2) addition was completed which came close to doubling the size of the Niles Campus. In 2001 a 14,000-square-foot (1,300Â m2) Michigan Technology Center was add to the Niles Campus. This building is known as the Harry T. Gast Building, named for the former Michigan state senator. Renovations began on the main building at the Niles Campus in 2013, and continued improvements are planned.
Accreditations
Southwestern Michigan College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Southwestern Michigan College is also a member of the American Association of Community Colleges.
On-campus student housing
SMC Housing offers apartment style living with full kitchens and private, lockable bedrooms. These fully furnished four bedroom apartments have two bathrooms. SMC housing covers all utilities including wired and wireless internet, air conditioning, electricity, and water.
In fall 2009, Southwestern Michigan College opened their first residential housing facility on campus with a 130-bed student housing unit. On August 16, 2009 the student housing was dedicated and named in Honor of Keith H. McKenzie. Southwestern Michigan College's second housing unit, East Hall, on the College's Dowagiac campus opened for the fall 2010 semester.
Due to continuing high demand, SMC built their third housing facility which opened to students in 2013. Originally named South Hall, the building became William M. White Hall on August 19, 2013; East Hall was renamed Thomas F. Jerdon Hall on this date as well.
Board of Trustees
Southwestern Michigan College is governed by a 7-member locally elected Board of Trustees.
References
External links
- Southwestern Michigan College Home Page
- Michigan Community College Association