The Southwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees opened construction bids on Monday for the new Nursing and Health Education Building opening fall 2018.

The 12,047-square-foot 1970 facility south of the David C. Briegel Building on the Dowagiac campus will be rebuilt into a 29,086 square feet with a glass atrium across the front facing residential halls.

This east-west open area encourages student/faculty interaction outside classroom instruction.

The project doubles the size of SMC’s ACEN-accredited nursing program while adding another health-related occupation, such as occupational therapy assistant or physical therapy assistant.

Four simulation labs replicate hospital rooms with computerized mannequins augmenting clinical instruction.

Two eight-bed skills labs provide students a place to practice inserting IVs, check blood pressure and perform total-body assessments.

Trustees selected Wednesday, Sept. 6, for the Nursing and Health Education Building Construction Celebration.

Featured speaker Michigan Budget Director Al Pscholka was instrumental as a state legislator in securing $4 million from the state for the project.

The celebration is open to the public, with more details to follow.

Following a public hearing, the board adopted a balanced $23,388,000 2017-18 operating budget that increases 1.5 percent over the current year.

Housing increases 3 percent, to $2,447,035 for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

“Southwestern Michigan College remains strong,” said Board of Trustees Chairman Thomas F. Jerdon. “This 1.5-percent increase shows we are committed to affordable access to quality higher education. SMC has adopted a structurally balanced budget every single year since the college’s 1964 founding. I am proud of the Board of Trustees and the college administration for unwavering commitment to sound fiscal management.”