Southwest Michigan College                 * be sure to read our "What is Dual Enrollment?" page first

www.swmich.edu: Look under Admissions, then Early College.  
See tab: What is dual enrollment? first to understand any limitations.
​SMC registration opens by April 1 for FALL
SMC classes began Jan. 7        Link to Spring Calendar
Open to students in grades 9-12  

Community College Dual Enrollment Process:  SMC

The application and registration process is easy:
1) SMC offers 2 locations: Dowagiac or Niles campus
2) Meet with an advisor: 
    Ben Spencer: bspencer02@swmich.edu    269-782-1309
3) Take the college's placement test (COMPASS) which determines the student's overall reading and math proficiency.  If you already have ACT or SAT scores, those            may be submitted for consideration in place of taking the COMPASS test.  
4) Once the advisor has your scores and approves your choices, you can register and choose your classes all on the same form: 
       Southwestern Michigan College Enrollment Authorization            Southwestern Michigan College Registration Permit    
5) Fill out all sections except those reserved for High School use, including the names and section numbers of all classes and parent and student signatures
6) Send to Sharon Haynes by scan or fax for signature.  We will send it back to SMC for processing and let you know when registration is complete.

Dual enrollment students can take any class except for religion, craft/hobby, phys ed or remedial.   Dual enrollment courses can be core subjects as long as they are taken for college credit only, non-core subjects can be taken for both high school and college credit.  ​ 

IMPORTANT:
To get the college classes you need, you may register before partnership registration opens.  One other Partnership class is required (community or virtual) in order to take any dual enrollment class.  If one dual enrollment class is taken, the student must take one but may take up to 3 community or virtual classes.  If the student is taking 2 dual enrollment classes, the student must take one and can only take that one community or virtual class.

How to buy books:  
SMC has a voucher system. You will be given a voucher by the advising department to purchase the required books through their bookstore approximately one week before school begins.  The student MUST ATTEMPT to return all books to the bookstore during the buy-back period. All rentals must be returned promptly upon the end of the semester.  All books and supplies purchased must be presented for buy-back; if the bookstore accepts them, the funds must be returned by the student to BSPS unless the bookstore can issue a credit.  If the bookstore does not accept the books or if the supplies were consumable, the student must show proof from the bookstore of the rejection.  

Withdrawal and failing policy:  If a student enrolls in a college class and withdraws from that class after the college's refund/transfer window, or receives a failing ending grade, he or she will not be eligible to take future dual enrollment classes through the Partnership.  Parents have the option of reimbursing BSPS for all tuition and fees incurred in order to maintain their dual enrollment eligibility status.  If the student fails to reimburse the school, the student may not participate in the partnership in the future.