A comprehensive review of 2020’s accomplishments at Southwestern Michigan College highlighted Monday night’s regular monthly board of trustees meeting conducting remotely via Zoom, and there was a fair amount to take a look at according to SMC President Dr. Joe Odenwald.
Odenwald presented the list to trustees and others on the call, addressing development of the school’s first online courses, preparation of the 2020-2023 Strategic Plan which is slated for publication next month, the negotiated contract for enhanced food service, and increase in emergency reserves given the broader financial insecurity facing higher education in the near term, receipt of NJCAA approval to resume cross country operations next fall after 25 years, the creation of a new Roadrunner mascot logo, the school’s honor of being voted Best Local College for the third straight year by Leader Publications readers and establishment of the Grady Scholars program for minority student leadership development.
Odenwald and board Chairman Tom Jerdon visited 27 public meetings in every municipality, plus three school boards and both political parties over the course of the year.
SMC also secured pledges of more than $30,000 for the Roadrunner Recruiting Gallery in the Charles O. Zollar Building, significantly upgraded information technology infrastructure and approved two new allied health programs, the Associate in Applied Science in MRI Technology and the Associate in Applied Science in Neurodiagnostic Technology (EEG) in partnership with the Michigan Community College Association.
Dr. Odenwald says, “We have a ways to go to get through the COVID-19 pandemic,” adding, “As the vaccine is distributed, we’re going to have better days, but we’re not waiting until it’s over to figure out where we need to go. We’re building for the future now.”
Odenwald surveyed the work done, noting, “More than two dozen campus representatives worked to compose the college’s first strategic plan in a decade,” with Chairman Jerdon calling it, “One of the best things I’ve ever seen us put out,” referring to both the design and content of the plan.
Good news on campus for Starbucks Coffee fans. They will be heading to campus next spring, as SMC has signed a multi-year agreement with Canteen to re-open the Zollar Café in the Student Activity Center for the Spring 2021 semester. The new café will offer most of the Starbucks drink menu — coffees, teas, lattes, cold brews, macchiatos and Frappuccinos. Food items there will include donuts, pastries, muffins, fresh deli salads, fresh sandwiches, fresh wraps, fruit parfaits and yogurt parfaits.
The board also acknowledged 11 donations totaling $9,800 to the SMC Foundation and accepted 17 gifts to the college totaling $7,625.
Trustees have adopted a new 2021 meeting time of 8 am on each second Wednesday going forward.
