Fall classes begin this week at Southwestern Michigan College
Published 8:00 am Friday, September 5, 2014
For the 50th year in a row, the hallways of Southwestern Michigan College’s facilities are alive with the flood of students rushing between classrooms.
The start of the college’s fall semester began Tuesday morning. Nearly 2,800 students enrolled for classes for the semester, 398 of which are living in one of the Dowagiac campus’ three residence halls, said President David Mathews.
“No matter what college you’re at, the most positive, electric days of the year are the first days of the fall semester, and that’s no different here,” Mathews said.
While the amount of total class hours that students have signed up for this semester declined by 7.5 percent, the number of traditional college students continued its accent, with 76 percent of the student body under the age of 24.
“That’s a remarkable number for a community college,” Mathews said. “In most community colleges, the average age of students is somewhere in the 30s.”
This percentage has been steadily climbing over the last several years, based in part to the institution’s focus on
student life, Mathews said. In addition to
providing on-campus dormitories, which are fully occupied again this semester, the school also offers amenities that are typically reserved for universities and larger, private colleges.
“By ramping up the total college life experience for people who live on campus, it also ramps it up for the 85 percent of students who don’t,” Mathews said. “They can still join our choir, perform in our fall play, or use the rock climbing wall.”
Another strength the college is building on this semester is their academic programs. Enrollment in the criminal justice program, which was launched last year, grew this semester, and the administration plans on expanding their business and science offerings on their Niles campus.
Hype is continuing to build among students and staff for the college’s upcoming 50th anniversary celebration, which takes place on Sept. 20. The daylong event will be open the public, and will include such activities as a vintage car show, a Ferris wheel and fireworks.
Even as the half-century old institution continues to grow to meet the evolving needs of the community, Mathews said that their commitment to in-classroom instruction remains as strong as it was when students first entered the doors in 1964.
“Success has bred success,” he said. “People are still coming here for our flagship nursing program, our flagship performing arts program, our flagship automotive program. It’s a really exciting time to be here.”