Community Resources Overview
Southwestern Michigan College isn’t just for students. The College also provides an opportunity for members of the College’s district (residents of Cass County and Keeler and Hamilton townships in Van Buren County), as well as adjoining communities, to enjoy SMC’s campuses, cultural activities and facilities. Visit the online Calendar of Events to locate details about upcoming events and activities open to the public.
Fitness Center/Walking and Running Trails/Steve's Run
The Fitness Center is located inside the Student Activity Center in the Charles O. Zollar Building, off the Dailey Road campus parking lot. More than six miles of wooded walking and running trails begin near the Fitness Center. SMC’s Fitness Center is available to members of the community through an annual membership fee or a daily guess pass. Designed to meet all the needs of an active person, the Fitness Center offers a variety of exercise equipment including treadmills, stair climbers and stationary bikes, as well as the latest CYBEX machines and free weights.
Watch for Steve's Run at the end of July each summer. Follow the link on the left for more information on this premier event.
Fred L. Mathews Library and Conference Center
Residents of the Southwestern Michigan College district can use the Fred L. Mathews Library and Conference Center on the College’s Dowagiac campus. Community members can use their MichiCARD from other public library at the Mathews Library or they can apply for a free card from the Mathews Library.
The Mathews Conference Center offers 11,000 square feet of rental space for trainings, banquets and conferencing needs. Mathews Conference Center West has the capacity to accommodate up to 150 people, while the Conference Center East can be utilized as a large room or divided into three individual spaces.
Short and Enrichment Courses
SMC offers a full schedule of short and enrichment course offerings throughout the year. Classes focus on skill-building, professional development, personal enrichment and travel, with courses in computers, literature, physical education, art, history and business. Short-course classes carry college credit that may apply toward a college degree.
Business and Industry Training
The business and industry training department provides customized and modularized training for area companies and pre-employment occupational skills training for area residents. Our MTECsm facility at the Niles Area Campus will create customized courses for any businesses to provide personalized training for their employees.
The Museum at Southwestern Michigan College
The Museum at Southwestern Michigan College is located on the Dowagiac campus. It was established for the primary purpose of preserving the history of the college district through collection, preservation and display.
The Museum is an interactive adventure in local history and an exciting exploration in science and technology. Exhibits and activities are available for all ages. Admission is FREE! The Museum is located on the Dowagiac campus of Southwestern Michigan College.
Career Resources
Southwestern Michigan College has also developed a virtual Career Resource Center to help students and community members assess possible careers options, explore career opportunities and use internet resources to find career and labor market information, expected salaries or search for jobs both locally and nationally. Reference information and software to create a resume or prepare for the interview process can be accessed in our Teaching and Learning Centers on either campus. Southwestern Michigan College's Office of Work Based Learning also provides area employers with an opportunity to submit job postings for their organizations. Job seekers can search these job postings in the greater Michiana area.
Fine and Performing Arts
The Fine and Performing Arts Department offers numerous cultural exhibits and performances. Concerts featuring the Jazz Ensemble, Brass Band, Concert Choir, SMC Select Voices and Evening Chorale are scheduled in both the Fall and Winter terms. Performances by the students in the Dance Program include casual dance showings, formal dance concerts and musical theatre performances. In December, plan on attending Southwestern Michigan College's annual free Christmas Concert, our gift to the community. The Theatre Program produces several theatre productions each year with some of the past performances including Grease, Anne Get Your Gun and Sweeney Todd.
The Dale A. Lyons Building is home to the Art Gallery. Exhibits are on display by area artists and Southwestern Michigan College students during the Fall and Winter semesters. Admission is free.
Teaching and Learning Centers
The Teaching and Learning Centers in the Fred L. Mathews Library and at the Niles Area Campus feature state-of-the-art computer technology and are open to the community. The TLCs provide many resources including reference materials for many courses and computers that are loaded with software specifically chosen to assist learning.