Western Michigan University-Southwest, on the Napier Campus of Lake Michigan College is now offering a tuition assistance program for students transferring there from either Lake Michigan College or Southwestern Michigan College. It's called simply Southwest Advantage.
The Southwest Advantage program provides tuition assistance to students who transfer into WMU-Southwest, from Lake Michigan College or Southwestern Michigan College. The Southwest Advantage offers each LMC or SMC transfer student three credits at WMU-Southwest at LMC and SMC tuition rates. The course can be taken at any time during a student’s tenure at WMU-Southwest.
For the 2016 fall semester, WMU-Southwest awarded over $7,000 in tuition assistance. To be eligible, students must be accepted to WMU-Southwest’s business administration, elementary education, nursing, or university studies undergraduate program.
Alyc Packard, a full-time social media employee at Benton Harbor-based Whirlpool Corporation, recently enrolled at Western Michigan University’s Southwest regional location to earn a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Packard, a nontraditional student, was able to transfer credits she earned at Lake Michigan College seamlessly and save money because of WMU’s Southwest Advantage program.
Packard tells us, “My transition from LMC to WMU was very smooth because of the Southwest Advantage and the relationship established between the two schools in our community.” She adds, “Earning my degree from WMU is allowing me to continue working while taking classes and once completed, I know I will be positioned as an expert in the field.”
Students must have 30 or more earned credits from LMC or SMC to qualify for the Southwest Advantage. In-person and hybrid courses that are part of the undergraduate programs offered at WMU-Southwest both qualify for tuition assistance. To apply, complete the application form at wmich.edu/southwest/advantage or call 269-934-1500 for more information.
Steve Way is Assistant Director at WMU-Southwest. He says, “We recognize that many of our students are local residents who transfer from LMC and SMC to complete their degrees at WMU.” He concludes, “It’s important that we invest in their education and make sure achieving a bachelor’s degree is easy and affordable.”
