By Staff
Southwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees approved the construction of a second student housing unit on the xollege's Dowagiac campus, set tuition rates for the coming academic year, accepted gifts and grants and conducted other business during a regularly scheduled monthly meeting held on Tuesday, March 10, at the College's MTEC facility on the Niles Area Campus.
In response to overwhelming interest in on-campus student housing, the Board of Trustees authorized extending the College's contract with Shelton Construction Co. of Benton Harbor, Mich. in the amount of $5,164,507 for the construction of a second student housing unit to open in 2010.
According to SMC President Dr. David Mathews, "Applicants from the high school graduating class of 2009 have exceeded the capacity of the first unit that will open this fall. Beginning construction now for the second unit will allow us to provide sufficient space to accommodate all of the students from the graduating class of 2010 who are interested in living on SMC's campus."
According to Board of Trustees Chairman Dr. Fred Mathews, "The second housing unit, like the first, will be financed entirely through the rents provided by students and will require no taxpayer funds. In fact, the student housing will provide a net increase in revenue to the college, one that is much needed in a time of declining state funding."
The Board of Trustees also adopted the tuition and fee schedule to be effective for the 2009 fall semester.
Changes include a $5.75 per contact hour increase for in-district students, a $7.50 increase for out-of-district students, an $8.50 increase for out-of-state students and an $11.25 increase for international students.
The new contact hour rates will be: In-District $88.25 (up 6.9% from $82.50); In-State $112.75 (up 7.1% from $105.25); Out-of-State $122.25 (up 7.4% from $113.75); and International $157.50 (up 7.6% from $146.25). Additionally, trustees approved a $2 per hour increase in the college's registration fee and a $2 increase in the technology fee.
"The college has reacted to the reduced state funding with aggressive cost containment, cost reduction and revenue generation," said Dr. David Mathews. "Because it is imperative that we provide our students with the very latest in technology, extensive tutoring, exceptional learning environments, the college is required to raise tuition but by only a few dollars a credit hour. This will allow us to continue to provide the very best educational opportunity we can to our students.
"Even with the new tuition rates, Southwestern Michigan College is an outstanding educational value," said President Mathews. "Next year, total tuition and fees for a full-time student of SMC's district will still be about $3,000 for the whole year. This is less than half the cost of Western Michigan University, less than a third of those at Michigan State University and Central Michigan University and less than a quarter of the cost of the University of Michigan."
SMC Board of Trustees Chairman Dr. Fred L. Mathews said, "Modest tuition increases such as those approved this evening will insure that SMC remains affordable and insure that the college has the resources to maintain the highest quality academic programs and services."
The board accepted the following contributions to SMC.
The following gifts were received with a resolution of thanks from the Board of Trustees:
Mrs. Margaret Huff, South Bend, Ind., a contribution in the amount of $5,000.
From Chemical Bank, Niles, a contribution in the amount of $1,000.
From Vector Marketing Corp., South Bend, Ind., a contribution in the amount of $1,000.
From Larry Brewer, Dowagiac, services valued at $417.