News
$670,000 Designated for SMC Student Scholarships
Published on May 14, 2026 - 9 a.m.
At its regular meeting on May 13, Southwestern Michigan College’s Board of Trustees heard that the SMC Foundation’s financial aid for student scholarships is increasing for 2026-27.
Chief Financial Officer Michelle Kite reported that the foundation contributed $500,000 last year and is boosting that to $590,000, plus $80,000 in lease income from the Edward Guse farm, for a total of $670,000.
“The foundation does a lot of good for us,” Chairman Tom Jerdon said.
In his President’s Report, Dr. Klint Pleasant said he and Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Brent Brewer met with Lake Michigan College President Dr. Ken Flowers and his predecessor, Dr. Trevor Kubatzke, and hosted the CEO and regional director of Beacon Health.
“I’m excited to let you know that we have a team-building retreat off-site planned for May 18,” Pleasant said. “The Senior Leadership Team (SLT) will be off campus that day, spending some time for me to get to know everyone on a more personal level.”
Pleasant said the second half of that day will be a working meeting finalizing the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats), “using that to build out our strategic plan. In August or September we can plan an extended work session with the board.”
Pleasant, who plans to go to the Michigan Community College Association (MCCA) June meeting, will be attending Edwardsburg’s Senior Awards on May 20 and “as many as I can” of SMC new-student orientations.
There were 232 graduates who walked in 59th Commencement ceremonies on May 9.
“Summer (enrollment) is looking healthy and fall is looking good, too,” Pleasant said. “We’re tracking to be slightly ahead. As the top of the funnel tightens, you look at indicators like how many students were at our first orientation compared to last year and housing applications. There’s no reason at this point to not feel we are trending to a good place.”
Pleasant said the Student Activity Center roof project is completed and renovation of the Dale A. Lyons Building is proceeding as scheduled.
Pleasant also touched on the Cass Kickstart to Careers program, which supports the promotion and creation of $25 Children’s Savings Accounts (CSA) for Cassopolis Public Schools students to save for college.
“It’s been a great program for students in Cassopolis,” he said, “but it’s also benefited us because our students through (Business Department Chair) Eric Clayborn have collaborated with this program.”
He also quoted from a colleague’s article published in Crain’s: “When more residents can gain in-demand skills, businesses strengthen their talent pools. When employers can hire locally, they grow more efficiently. And when individuals have stable, well-paying jobs, communities thrive. Community colleges do more than open doors to higher education, they drive economic development.”
“You all know that because you’ve been working toward that end for a long time,” Pleasant said, “but sometimes a reminder is helpful.”
Trustee Dr. Elaine Foster will succeed Vice Chairman Tracy Hertsel as SMC’s alternate delegate to the MCCA.
The board acknowledged 19 gifts to the SMC Foundation totaling $10,325.
Trustees also accepted a $250 donation to the college.
After setting the annual budget hearing with its June 10 meeting, the board met in closed session for updates on the faculty union collective bargaining process.
