Southwestern Michigan College has been awarded a $2 million grant from the State of Michigan’s Office of Sixty by Thirty, part of the recently-established Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential, or MiLEAP. The grant is intended to help increase the number of bachelor-prepared nurses in the state.
The College will be partnering with Andrews University to bring affordable bachelor’s programs to SMC’s Dowagiac campus.
Dr. Dave Fleming, SMC Provost, said, “I am delighted that SMC has been able to create yet another way to support our local health care partners through this nursing grant.”
Dr. Melissa Kennedy, Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Services, added, “This grant opportunity allows SMC to extend our vision of ‘Knowledge For All’ in a new way by offering our nursing graduates the ability to further their educational and professional careers at a more affordable cost through a local university partner.”
SMC applied for the grant in July 2023 and was notified in November of the award. The funds will be spent over the next three years to boost recruiting into the nursing program, improve student support services such as tutoring, hire an advisor to help students navigate the RN-to-BSN journey and to supplement classroom and technology updates.
New class options and enhancements will be in place for the fall 2024 semester. Students interested in applying for the SMC School of Nursing and Health Services may do so for free at https://swmich.edu/admissions/apply/
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