DOWAGIAC – Each year, Southwestern Michigan College competes for grant funding to be able to provide more services to the community and more services to students than would otherwise be possible with just local resources.

SMC recently received federal grants of $259,574 to support the Educational Talent Search (ETS) program for the 2009-2010 school year.

The ETS program identifies and assists individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who have the potential to succeed in higher education. The program provides academic, career, and financial counseling to its participants and encourages them to graduate from high school and continue on to the postsecondary institution of their choice. The ETS program serves 800 students in the 6th-12th grades from the Brandywine, Cassopolis, Dowagiac, Edwardsburg and Marcellus school districts.

In addition to the ETS grant, the college received three grants from the state Perkins grants totaling $211,797 from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth (MDLEG).

The MDLEG grant of $175,897 will be used to provide services to the college’s special population, as well as assistive computer technology, advising and tutoring which promotes student success. Additionally, the $18,400 grant will be used to support local administration and the attainment of industry-recognized technical skills in SMC’s occupational programs.

The administrative support grant of $17,500 allows the college to engage in liaison activities to the Department of Labor and Economic Growth, business and industry, area school districts and the other Michigan community colleges.

“Southwestern Michigan College has been successful at getting and retaining this funding because of the College’s proven track record for student success,” said SMC President Dr. David Mathews. “In addition, the administration grant will allow SMC’s liaison to coordinate all aspects of the occupational programs within the college and disseminates key information from the state to administration, faculty and counselors.”