Enrollment is up at Southwestern Michigan College this fall.
SMC President Joseph Odenwald reported to trustees this week enrollment numbers show a 2.8% increase in head count and a 1.5% increase in contact hours, or 2,044 students compared to 1,989 last year at this time.
This makes three falls in a row that SMC has seen increased enrollment. The college says the only time other time SMC was up three straight falls in the last 25 years was 2008, 2009, and 2010, when the nationwide recession drove record numbers of unemployed workers back to school.
Odenwald credited the enrollment increase this year with the SMC marketing, admissions, advising, and financial aid teams. He noted this is the first time the college has had 2,000 students in five years.
The board of trustees this week also recognized Athletics Director Rodell Davis and Chief Marketing Officer Mike O’Brien for the athletics department winning the Michigan Community College Athletics Association’s most prestigious honor for the 2023-2024 season. The Charlie Chanter All-Sports Trophy recognizes overall program success among the 24 members of the MCCAA.
The Roadrunners fully returned to intercollegiate competition just two years ago after a 25-year hiatus.
