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.
​Fall 2020 classes begin Sept. 8.   Spring 2021 classes begin Jan. 25.
                        Link to Academic Calendar '20-'21    
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      OR   Brian Howard 269-783-2706
3) Take the college's placement test (Accuplacer) which determines the student's overall reading and math proficiency.  In order to take the Accuplacer test, you MUST have a student ID, state picture ID, driver's license or a parent must bring a picture of the student with the student to be notarized on-site at the college.  If you already have ACT or SAT scores, those may be submitted for consideration in place of taking the Accuplacer test.  Accuplacer ID Form
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 and will notify Sharon when books are ready to be picked up.  That information will be sent to students as soon as it is received.  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.    If the bookstore does not accept purchase buy-backs or if the supplies were consumable, the student may keep the purchase.   If the student does not return rentals in time, the family will be responsible for either the purchase price or the late return fees.

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.