Indiana University South Bend and Southwestern Michigan College are expanding their partnership to add advertising, marketing, health services management, accounting, finance, human resource management and general business pathways to students interested in completing a four-year degree while staying in the area.

In September 2017, IUSB and SMC unveiled an agreement to help nursing students chart a smooth route from an associate-level Registered Nurse to a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing.

Now, business students can complete the first two years at SMC’s low tuition, gain an associate degree and then transfer all of classes to IUSB in a seamless fashion.

“It gives our students more choices,” Dr. Stacy Young, dean of the SMC Schools of Business and Advanced Technology, said. “You come here and take what I call the IUSB-approved ‘business core’ and then transfer into any of these different programs.

“We help students get off on the right foot establishing themselves in college,. We do a really good job helping students transition from high school to college. That’s one of SMC’s strengths because we’re smaller. Our Dowagiac campus has the look and feel of a private school, but at public college prices. You get settled in a welcoming environment to understand what college is like before you move to the university.”

“There has been some perception that college credits from Michigan for some reason don’t transfer across state lines, and vice versa, which is not the case,” said Dr. David Fleming, SMC’s vice president of instruction. “These arrangements are perfect for someone who wants to stay in the greater South Bend area and complete a business degree right here.”

Pathways particularly appeals to Young because her 16-year-old daughter is interested in attending SMC. “I’d probably encourage her to take one of the IUSB pathways,” Young said. “Then she’d have all those options open to her at the end. Being able to transfer in seven different directions is pretty nice. It would be perfect for her because she knows she wants a career in business, but she’s not quite sure what yet. This keeps all of her options open for two years while she explores and decides.”

The two institutions are less than 30 miles apart and an easy drive from anywhere in Michiana. Student housing is available at both colleges. Those interested in the IUSB pathways can contact SMC Admissions at (269) 783-2135, e-mail enrollment@swmich.edu or text to (269) 464-5999.