Southwestern Michigan College credits its investments in on-campus housing and student activities to support it for 60-percent enrollment growth in four years.

At the same time, state support withered to below 1999 levels.

Yet SMC remains financially healthy enough to renovate facilities such as the Student Activity Center (SAC) and a Fitness Center utilized by students and community alike which is supervised by Stephanie Munson.

“Stephanie, who has worked in rehabilitation, is the brains behind the Fitness Center operation,” SMC President Dr. David M. Mathews said.

“Why would a community college make an investment like this? High school class sizes are getting smaller, which is no surprise if you went to any graduation this year.”

His own daughter, Samantha, graduated with Dowagiac Union High School’s Class of 2011.

“We’ve been watching this for a decade and knew we had to get our share of a shrinking pie of students,” Mathews said. “We surveyed students and those who weren’t coming to SMC, it was because we didn’t have student housing and student life” for the complete college experience, “so we invested in it. We’re healthy because we’re more attractive to more students. Yeah, high-quality academics is the right thing to do, and I’m committed to that, but the right thing to do to attract students is to have the total student life, and to have people like Stephanie running that.”

Attorney John Magyar, who serves on the Fitch Camp board with Stephanie, introduced her for Ron Gunn.

Munson, who as a mother of two young children appreciates living within four miles of her flexible campus job, is “very thankful for SMC. I’ve seen many changes happen in my 5 1/2 years. Students who come to SMC are very, very lucky to have what they have on campus.

“The Student Activities Center (SAC) was renovated in conjunction with building our first housing. To have on-campus housing for the first time, we wanted things for students to do in their off-time when they’re not in class.

“We expanded the building, doubling its size, I believe, and strive to offer activities which appeal to all types of students — traditional, non-traditional, commuters.

“They can come to the SAC in between classes to relax and hang out with their friends or eat lunch. Also, with on-campus housing, we were able to expand our hours, mainly during the fall and winter semesters when the (two housing) buildings are full. We are now open until 11 p.m. weekdays.”

Munson gave Dowagiac Rotary Club a “virtual tour” of the SAC Thursday noon at Elks Lodge 889.

Her tour started in the 80-seat event theater for variety shows, live bands, political programs and movies.

Students have the option of bringing in their own films they want to watch on a big screen if they reserve it. Instructors bring classes over if a visual presentation is part of the curriculum.

A game room is stocked with two pool tables, two ping-pong tables, two foosball tables, arcade games, televisions along the walls with video games and controllers available for check-out, as are laptop computers.

“Twice a year, we do different tournaments,” she said, from ping-pong and pool to Madden video football.

“I believe the Madden championship is played in the theater to get students excited to play on the big screen.”

A coffee bar has hours at present of Monday to Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for breakfast and lunch.

“Just this semester we changed food vendors,” Munson said, “and I can vouch for the sandwiches and soups, which is mainly what I eat. There’s a good variety and quite a few staff take advantage of it.”

There is a fireplace to congregate around in colder months.

SMC has a strong intramural program, offering sports every semester. Fall and spring there is co-ed football, although mostly men play.

“Our intramural coordinator, Justin Bennett, highly encourages girls to get involved and we have had girls involved in the past,” Munson said. “We also offer a men’s basketball intramural team, and we also encourage girls to get involved. And we do have traveling teams where men and women can get teams together and play other schools. We have men’s and women’s travel soccer teams. We also have a co-ed soccer league that plays within the college community.”

The intramural department also oversees such student activities as a home run derby and a students versus staff softball game.

Munson said, “Justin did his first wrestling tournament this past year. He does a Snow Bowl full-contact football game. We need snow for that one. He did his first powderpuff football game and tried to recruit me, but I offered to be the athletic trainer instead. He also hosts a Roadrunner football tournament and invites other area community colleges to compete. The Michigan and national intramural recreational associations, he organizes travel tournaments with them, too, for football and basketball.”

With President Mathews about to tackle Mount Rainier again, no SAC tour would be complete without a stop at the rock-climbing room.

“This room features a 35-foot climbing wall and a section devoted to bouldering,” she said. “As best as I can explain it, bouldering is a type of climbing where you do not need the top rope and the harness and that safety device. You can only climb so high without it and there are crash mats and spotting going on. It’s fun because it challenges your strength and you have to get past the fear in your head to get up to the top of that boulder.

“Also featured in that room is David Baker’s room-sized mural. Climbing equipment is all supplied for students, from shoes to harnesses, and they are all required to go through an orientation session on safety techniques. That room is not open the full time the building is open. This summer (The Canyon) is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12 to 3.”

Another SAC feature is three “endless” swimming pools, which are seeing increased usage with the first Sister Lakes triathlon coming up next month.

“Think of them as like treadmills for pools,” Munson said. “Swim in place against a current you can set depending on what your resistance needs to be. It’s a great option for a cardio-vascular workout if you don’t want to run, bike or walk.”

Still part of the SAC complex from the original Zollar building is the full-size gymnasium.

“It’s open for students to use whenever they want to for basketball and volleyball. It has two racquetball courts. I noticed students playing on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We have racquets, goggles and balls all available for checkout,” Munson said.

Outside are the Roadrunner trails.

“We have distances ranging from 1.4 miles to 6.2 miles,” Stephanie said. “Maps are available in the SAC. They’re well-maintained with distance signs” except those damaged by vandals — deer like to scratch grooves into them with their antlers.

Munson culminates her tour with her pet project, group fitness. Two classes are offered to students and members at no additional charge.

Haitha yoga is available on Tuesday evening from 6 to 7:15. It’s taught by Karen Sommers from Cassopolis.

“She’s a great instructor and it’s been popular. She focuses on balance and stretching and overall stress release. You get a good workout, but it’s not so intense you can’t keep up. She’s really good about tailoring to your needs, such as any injuries which might interfere with a pose. The day of the week is possibly changing at the end of July. I’m working on my new schedule.”

Body Pump is an hour of strength training.

“It’s offered every day of the week,” Munson said. “We even have a class on Saturday. Monday/Wednesday/Friday, the lunch-hour class is popular. We use barbells and plates. Each song focuses on a different body part. ‘We’re doing squats next, so up your weight, or go back down because we’re doing chest.’ Tuesday/Thursday it’s offered early, 6:30 a.m.”

The state-of-the-art Fitness Center “is something we’re very fortunate to have in this community,” Munson said. “The equipment was all replaced and updated when we renovated. The treadmills, the ellipticals, the bicycles — upright and recumbent — in our cardio-vascular area are all still in very good condition, and I pride myself on taking care of things and making sure the student employees who work for us do, too.

“We have a stairstepper and something called a stomach trainer. Picture climbing up a summit. It’s like a cross between an elliptical and a stairstepper because you’re climbing the whole time you’re going up. The area features flat-screen televisions so you can catch up on your news for the day or watch ESPN. We change the TV according to who’s working out.

“We’ve got several stability balls for stretching or ab workouts. We feature a whole series of Cybex equipment where you take pins and put them at whatever weight you want to do. It’s a very safe machine because it was originally developed for physical therapy. You’ll have the right motion each time. It’s good to start strength training with Cybex. We also have plate-loaded equipment which is still on a guided path, but the benefit is you can get more weight. Once you’ve progressed, free weights are beneficial for everybody. As we age we lose our balance and coordination as part of the aging process. I recommend free weights for everybody at every age because you need to get off that guided path and use your stabilizing muscles to help with the motion. We have a whole series of benches and inclines and a squat rack that’s not on the guided path. We also have an area with cable-pulling machines. Having this building on campus is a great opportunity for students. We give them tours to show them what’s available. I talk about the Student Activity Center, but the academic side of the college is top-notch, too.”

Community memberships can be purchased through the bookstore in the College Services Building in the center of campus — three months, $150; six months, $200; and a full year, $350; day passes to try rock climbing or the pools, $20; or yoga or Body Pump, $5, at the front desk. The building is locked, so students swipe identification cards for entry.