News

SMC Celebrates Lunar New Year for Spring

Southwestern Michigan College residence halls rang in Chinese New Year and the Year of the Dragon Feb. 6 with pageantry and an authentic tea ceremony.

SMC's Spring Faculty Recital Features Clarinets

Southwestern Michigan College’s “The ABCs of the American Clarinet” shined a spotlight on the often-unsung “licorice stick” Feb. 6. Joining Scott Kurtzweil for the spring faculty recital were collaborative pianist Christine Seitz, drummer Glenn McFarland and, from the SMC Clarinet Studio, students Dakotah Chandler, Logan Lampe, Madison Sutherland and Mikayla Williams.

SMC’s ‘Feel’ That Drew Ted Chase 30 Years Ago Hasn't Changed a Bit

In the 30 years since he graduated from Southwestern Michigan College, Berrien County’s Ted Chase returns regularly to the campus where he met his wife. Daughter Emily this fall will carry on the family tradition of playing in the band.

SMC Spring Enrollment Up 11.5%, Also Led State Last Year

Southwestern Michigan College, at the end of the registration period for the current session, recorded its fifth straight semester of enrollment growth over the previous year. Spring 2024 enrollment is up 11.5 percent in contact hours, with an increase of 177 students over Spring 2023.

’19 Grad Adds MSU, Notre Dame Degrees, Publishes Book, Moves to Florida

Audrey Bakerson keeps busy. In 2022, the 2019 Southwestern Michigan College 4.0 graduate finished her Michigan State University bachelor’s degree in human biology with a minor in entrepreneurship and innovation. In May she added her master of science degree in management from the University of Notre Dame while publishing a children’s book, The Little Egg.

SMC to Expand Housing Capacity

The Southwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees decided at its regular meeting on Jan. 10 to add new rooms and a total of 36 beds to the three existing residence halls on the Dowagiac campus, expanding capacity to address growing housing demand. Construction will begin this summer and the new space should be available beginning in January 2025.

Mary Young-Marcks Marks 40 Years on SMC's Faculty

As she embarked on her 40th year on Southwestern Michigan College’s faculty, Professor of Social Science Dr. Mary D. Young-Marcks paused to reflect.

203 SMC Students Named to Honor Rolls

Southwestern Michigan College named 44 students to the President’s List for the Fall 2023 semester. Students on the President’s List must earn a perfect 4.0 grade-point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale while carrying a full study load of at least 12 credits. The 159 students making the Dean’s List achieved at least a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale while carrying a full study load.

SMC Bass Anglers Eye Move into the Top 25

Southwestern Michigan College’s bass fishing team finished its inaugural Association of Collegiate Anglers (ACA) season in May a phenomenal 29th in the nation. Hundreds of colleges send teams to events all over the country. During their first year of competition, SMC Bass Anglers fished tournaments in eight different states.

SMC Graduates 21-Member Nursing Class

Southwestern Michigan College Dec. 13 welcomed 21 new nurses to America’s largest health care profession with almost 5.2 million registered nurses (RNs) nationwide. The fall class received associate degrees in nursing (ADN) in a pinning ceremony in the theatre of the Dale A. Lyons Building on the Dowagiac campus. The class joins the ranks of 3,206 SMC nursing graduates.