SMC board adopts $19,550,249 budget
Published 4:10 pm Wednesday, July 1, 2009
By Staff
Southwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees held a public budget hearing, adopted the college's 2009-2010 operating budget, reviewed recent data concerning SMC transfer student success and conducted other business at its meeting Tuesday evening on the Dowagiac campus.
SMC released the most recent report from Ferris State University (FSU) outlining academic accomplishments of SMC students who transferred to FSU in the 2007-2008 academic year.
The report, which is annually provided to SMC by FSU, showed that SMC students who transferred there earned the highest grade point averages (GPAs) compared to all Michigan community college transfer students and compared to all FSU students.
"Once again, the proof of our student success rate is in the numbers," said SMC President Dr. David Mathews. "The education a student receives at SMC is absolutely top quality. This report of how SMC students do upon transfer substantiates this claim. SMC students transferring to Ferris State University continue to be more successful than any other student group. We are very proud of this accomplishment."
Following the public budget hearing, the Board of Trustees adopted the college's 2009-2010 budget. It is a balanced budget at $19,550,249.
Regarding the college budget, board Chairman Dr. Fred L. Mathews said, "With this action tonight, the SMC Board of Trustees has adopted 43 budgets in the history of the college, all of which have been balanced. I continue to be proud of the Board of Trustees. Even with significant revenue constraints, the board has been able to balance next fiscal year's budget. This is a result of administrative and trustee efforts to find innovative ways to operate more efficiently. At the same time we have been able to strengthen the core mission of the college which is educational excellence at an affordable cost. SMC's students' success upon transfer continues to show that the college has prioritized effectively."
The following local gift was received with a resolution of thanks from the Board of Trustees: From Dowagiac Commercial Press, a contribution valued at $3,000.