Southwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees Monday evening heard a report on renewal of the Educational Talent Search (ETS) program with the award of a five-year grant for $1.2 million; recognized eight employees; heard a construction update on the college’s Alumni Plaza; and conducted other business during its monthly meeting on the Dowagiac campus. President Dr. David Mathews reported the ETS program recently received notification from the U.S. Department of Education of five years of continued funding through 2016. The program will receive $259,574 in the first year with a 3-percent reduction each year for the remaining four years. “This is an exceptionally competitive grant process based on performance measures,” said Mathews.
“The ETS program is a tremendous educational resource within our community. SMC’s program was awarded continued funding because of its documented success of serving disadvantaged middle and high school students.” The ETS program is part of the federal TRIO programs aimed at assisting individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds toward success in higher education. The program provides academic, career and financial counseling to participants identified as having the potential to succeed in higher education if they receive additional supportive services. ETS services include tutoring, assistance with college entrance exams and applications and exposure to college campuses around the region.  SMC’s ETS program serves 700 middle and high school students from the Cassopolis, Dowagiac, Edwardsburg, Marcellus and Brandywine school districts.