The Southwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees held a public budget hearing, adopted the college’s 2014-2015 operating budget, accepted gifts and grants (see separate release) and conducted other business during its June 16 meeting on the Dowagiac campus.

After holding a public budget hearing, the Board of Trustees of Southwestern Michigan College adopted the college’s 2014-2015 fiscal-year budget for the year beginning July 1. It is a balanced budget of $23,733,000.

Board Chairman Dr. Fred L. Mathews said, “Southwestern Michigan College has adopted a structurally balanced budget every single year since the college was founded in 1964. I am very proud of the Board of Trustees and the college administration for their unwavering commitment to sound fiscal management and for identifying innovative ways to increase opportunities for students within the constraints of a balanced budget.”

SMC President Dr. David Mathews described the college’s budget as the “engine that powers SMC’s academic plan.” According to President Mathews, “The budget is the tool that we use to make sure that all of our student success initiatives become reality. Significant highlights of the 2014-2015 budget approved by trustees include: three new full-time faculty positions in mathematics, computing and business; a second, full-time librarian; an additional full-time staff position in the student activity center; and significantly expanded free tutoring for students.”

In his President’s report, Dr. David Mathews announced that phase two of the $3 million renovation and program expansion of the college’s Niles Campus is on-budget and on-schedule for completion before fall semester.

On the Dowagiac campus, progress is continuing on vacating the William P.D. O’Leary Building in anticipation of its complete renovation into a new science building.

The newly renovated O’Leary Science Building is on track to be completed by fall 2015.