Position Summary

The President of the Southwestern Michigan College is the chief executive and administrative office and is responsible to the Board of Trustees. The President will execute all administrative duties in connection with the operation of the College.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Have general responsibility for the operation of the College.
• Make policy recommendations to the Board of College operations.
• Prepare a preliminary draft of the annual budget to submit to the Board of Trustees and recommend necessary budget changes throughout the year.
• Employ, reclassify or dismiss College employees.
• Make recommendations regarding maintenance and improvements in buildings and grounds, including new facilities and equipment as needed.
• Stimulate and direct introduction of new programs and the planning of curriculum and program development.
• Be responsible for development and recommendations of policies pertaining to personnel, including salary schedule.
• Be responsible for public information concerning the administration and student activities of the College.
• Promote the cultural activities and public relations of the College, serving as host on appropriate occasions to individuals or groups, both within and outside the College.
• Consult with faculty and administrative personnel on problems relating to their responsibilities.
• Participate in local, state, regional and national organizations devoted to improvement of education, and especially the community college.
• Be responsible for the formulation and transaction of reports required by the governmental and educational authorities.

Job Specifications  

Master’s degree with at least 5 years’ experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified. Doctorate degree strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge Of:

• Budget preparation and fiscal management.
• Examining and re-engineering operations and procedures, formulation policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures.

Skills:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to supervise employees.
• Ability to foster a cooperative work environment.

Ability:

• Dexterity of hands to operate a computer keyboard as well as seeing to read and review materials for accuracy.
• Hearing and speaking to exchange information with students, staff and public.
• Ability to sit or stand for long periods of time.

Southwestern Michigan College Overview

Desired Characteristics and Traits of the President

• Engaging, visionary, transparent, and entrepreneurial leadership that is focused on the mission and student success
• Collaborative and willing to listen and learn from College stakeholders
• Visible and accessible leadership style
• Proactive leadership mindset
• Effective communication, organization, and presentation skills
• Ability to attract and retain talent and to motivate others to achieve
• Ability to inspire creativity and innovation among the College community
• Financial acumen that includes growth strategy, budgetary oversight, fiscal planning, and revenue generation
• Willingness to be highly visible on campus and maintain an interactive relationship with employees and students
• Commitment to community relations, community-mindedness and involvement, and willingness to maintain a strong public presence at campus events and limited community events
• Proven track record of advocacy and support for technical/career education and academic programs
• Ability to adapt to the changing landscape of higher education as well as drive innovation
• Understanding and appreciation for rural communities

Our Mission

From its inception in 1964, the mission of Southwestern Michigan College has focused on college access and "Knowledge For All".  SMC serves the community by providing affordable, local access to high-quality post-secondary career preparation and college education - including the total college-life experience. This mission reflects the strengths of SMC: student course success, transfer success, and student engagement through residential housing, student life, and co-curricular activities including great performing arts, abundant student groups and championship athletics.       

Our Institution

Southwestern Michigan College attracts students not only from its taxing district and the seven contiguous counties, but from throughout Michigan and the Midwest.  The College has had tremendous success with great leadership and the pursuit of long-term strategies of the College mission.  The College has enjoyed robust enrollment growth for the past four years and head count again exceeds 2,000 students despite regional and statewide declines in high school graduations. Demand for on-campus, apartment-style housing has warranted an expansion of the residence halls to a capacity of 426 beds for Fall 2025.  SMC has the most student beds among its peers and second-most housing of all Michigan community colleges.  The Charles O. Zollar Building is the hub for student activities, with video and table games, a well-equipped fitness center, a rock-climbing wall, the 1^st Source Bank Fieldhouse for court sports and a Starbucks café.

The College prides itself in competing with 4-year institutions for high school graduates as well as recruiting adult learners.   

Southwestern Michigan College is known for robust student life, including a championship-level intercollegiate athletic presence with nine teams competing in the NJCAA and first-class band, choir and performing arts programs. Club sports include bass fishing and boxing.  Currently, a $4.5 million Zollar Building expansion for wrestling is underway and additional renovation of performing arts facilities is planned for 2026 and beyond.  Both projects are being financed with savings in hand and with no additional debt anticipated.  The college takes great pride in the condition of its grounds and facilities across two campuses, investing over $60 million in renovation and new construction over the past decade and carrying zero deferred maintenance expense. The college has enjoyed balanced annual budgets for 60 years and its bonds are rated AA/Stable by S&P Global Ratings. SMC enjoys very loyal alumni and taxpayer bases; administrators and trustees are truly grateful for the tax dollars received from its district and donors. 

Southwestern Michigan College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, which is recognized as an institutional accreditor by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education. 

The College grants associate degrees and certificates in over 40 different courses of study via in-seat, hybrid and online formats.  Many of our students successfully transfer to four-year universities through a wide range of articulation agreements with Andrews University, Ferris State University, Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University, and Western Michigan University, among others.  SMC also offers immediate workforce training in the fields of healthcare, education, welding, automotive technology, robotics, and construction trades.   

The Southwestern Michigan College Foundation, a charitable 401(c)3 organization, provides funding to the College for scholarships and other projects. The asset value of the Foundation is approximately $16 million.  The Foundation will provide approximately $590,000 in scholarships for the 2025/2026 academic year.  The College President works closely with Foundation leadership to continue to develop relationships with donors and alumni.

Our Location

Southwestern Michigan College is the only institution of higher learning in our district, which includes Cass County plus Hamilton and Keeler Townships in Van Buren County. It is a beautiful rural, agricultural area that features an array of orchards, vineyards, and vegetable farms all located within easy commutes to several cities. Southwest Michigan is blessed with many inland lakes and streams that make it a vacation destination.  The district is contiguous to Indiana abutting the Granger-Mishawaka-South Bend region.  SMC’s main campus is located on 240 scenic wooded acres near the City of Dowagiac.  Nearby Interstate 94 provides access to Kalamazoo to the northeast, to the shoreline beaches of Lake Michigan just 20 miles to the west, and to Chicago approximately 90 minutes away. SMC also has a smaller satellite campus near Niles, Michigan, about 15 miles from the main campus.  

Cass County has a cost of living index 11% more affordable than the national average (per Market One) and median housing sales price of $263,750 (per Rocket Homes).  The College President will enjoy a robust area of affordable and varying housing options, shopping and dining, recreational and entertainment activities, and school district choices.

Compensation, Residency, Physical Requirements and Application Information

Salary Information

Base salary range of $200,000 - $220,000.

Other compensation typically includes housing allowance, auto allowance, community engagement allowance, deferred compensation, and as with other College employees, the choice between MPSERS (the state public employees retirement program) or the SMC Optional Retirement Program, which has an employee contribution of 4% and an SMC contribution of 14% with immediate full vesting.   

Residency Information

Within a reasonable time of appointment, the President must reside within 20 miles of the College district boundary (district includes Cass County, plus Hamilton and Keeler Townships, Van Buren County, Michigan), which includes cities of Dowagiac, Kalamazoo, Niles, Portage, South Haven, Sturgis, St. Joseph, Three Rivers, etc. and including in Indiana of Elkhart, Granger, Mishawaka, and South Bend, etc.

Physical Requirements of the Position

1. The physical activity of this position.

• Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling and walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces.
• Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Particularly for sustained periods of time.
• Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
• Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.
• Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.
• Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.
• Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discriminations in sound.

2. The physical requirements of this position.

Light work. Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.

3. The visual acuity requirements including color, depth perception, and field vision.

The employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading.

4. The conditions the employee will be subject to in this position.

None. The employee is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

To Apply

Qualified candidates should submit a letter of interest, CV/resume, and a list of professional references.

Master’s degree with at least 5 years’ experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified. Doctorate degree strongly preferred.

About Southwestern Michigan College

Since 1964, the mission of Southwestern Michigan College has focused on college access and "Knowledge For All". SMC serves the community by providing affordable, local access to high-quality post-secondary career preparation and college education - including the total college-life experience. This mission reflects the strengths of SMC: student course success, transfer success, and student engagement through residential housing, student life, and co-curricular activities including great performing arts, abundant student groups and championship athletics.

Connections working at Southwestern Michigan College