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An enrollment “four-peat” is a significant milestone in Southwestern Michigan College’s history, Interim President Brent Brewer reported to the Board of Trustees at its regular monthly meeting on Aug. 13.

“Our headcount as of Monday stands at 2,087 students, compared to 1,882 a year ago, or 205 more,” Brewer said. “That’s equivalent to a 10.9 percent increase in headcount and 12.4 percent in contact hours. The only time we’ve ever seen enrollment growth in four consecutive fall semesters over the past 30 years was during the recessions of 2007-10. So, achieving a four-peat in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 is a significant milestone in the college’s history. On the housing front, student occupancy is at full capacity, even with the addition of 36 beds scheduled for completion at the end of this month.”

Brewer reported the faculty has 47 full-time members for the upcoming academic year, one more than last year.

The board applauded Tuesday’s notification from the Higher Learning Commission that SMC had successfully completed its Open Pathway Assurance Review with no recommended future monitoring. “It’s a tremendous achievement,” Brewer said.

“That is such a tough thing to do,” Board Chair Tom Jerdon agreed. “SMC is succeeding on all fronts when it comes to enrollment, student housing growth and academic re-accreditation for the next five years by the HLC with zero recommendations. These are not easy things to achieve but the faculty, deans, staff and senior leadership are making this happen. Congratulations to the entire campus!”

Director of Human Resources Nicole Lehman reported on the progress of the presidential search. The position was posted July 2 and advertised on multiple platforms and professional networks nationwide, yielding a “strong pool of applications representing a wide range of professional backgrounds”. The posting closes Sunday, Aug. 17.

Treasurer Becky Moore presented a five-year service pin to Allyson Harris of Granger, senior admissions counselor and event coordinator.

Harris, an SMC alumna, earned an associate degree in early childhood education and her bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University in child and family development. Harris had previously worked for SMC Educational Talent Search until she switched to admissions in May.

Dr. Karen Reilly, Academic Dean for the School of Applied Arts, Business and Technology, accepted her five-year pin from Secretary Beth Cripe.

Reilly, of Silver Creek Township, earned an associate degree in biology from SMC, added her bachelor’s degree in biology from Indiana University South Bend and for the next 10 years served as Potawatomi Zoo educational director. She was also with Fort Wayne, Ind., Children’s Zoo and conducted sea turtle research seasonally at the Cape Lookout National Seashore, N.C., and Playa Grande, Costa Rica.

Returning to college at Indiana-Purdue University in Fort Wayne, Reilly completed a master’s degree in public affairs with a management concentration. Ivy Tech Community College hired her upon graduation for its dean of academic skills advancement division in Fort Wayne for eight years.

Reilly then joined Valencia College in Orlando, Fla., as the campus dean for learning support. She completed her Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction at Indiana State University, coming full circle and returning to SMC in 2020.

Trustee Todd Obren presented a 10-year pin to Kwajalein Dodd of Mishawaka, who graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in general education. Dodd completed her master’s degree in 2010 in counseling psychology from Capella University in Minneapolis.

She moved to the South Bend area to work with teen parents, which solidified her path of teaching and advising young people. Dodd joined SMC in August 2015, advising Perkins program students and eventually becoming the academic adviser for health services majors and occupational coordinator. She has taught multiple sections of Education 120.

John Yu of Granger accepted his 10-year pin from Trustee Dr. Elaine Foster. Yu joined SMC as an Information Technology (IT) programmer. Previously, he was a senior analyst for Underwriters Laboratories in South Bend for 14 years.

As a programmer, Yu is responsible for maintaining various business systems, such as Banner, Moodle and the Wired dashboard. He and his wife have traveled to Paris, Britain, Mexico and China. In September, a 12-day cruise takes them to England, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark.

A 20-year pin was awarded to Allen Jackson of Buchanan by Vice Chairman Tracy Hertsel.

Jackson came to SMC as a student in 2000. He tutored in math, chemistry and English and graduated with two IT degrees in 2004. Jackson worked as a part-time IT technician as well as the Niles Teaching and Learning Center coordinator for a year, then was promoted to network technician and senior network specialist.

Trustees also acknowledged three donations to the SMC Foundation totaling $850 and accepted nine gifts to the college for $6,950.