Higher Learning Commission approves SMC online program - For the second time in six months, Southwestern Michigan College has received a positive report card from its accrediting body. The Higher Learning Commission, which in July reaffirmed college accreditation for another 10 years, in November approved SMC to offer online programs in addition to online courses.
The approval relates directly to the recent inclusion of the Associate of Applied Science in MRI Technology and the Associate of Applied Science in Neurodiagnostic Technology of Southwestern Michigan College, but also means that the College has approval to expand to other online programs based on what the HLC review team cited. as "thorough planning, long-term commitment of resources, strong faculty leadership and student support."
Higher Learning Commission approves SMC online program
“This approval is further proof of how quality is inherent in everything we do. From never offering an online course in March 2020 to getting this approval says everything about the faculty and staff at Southwestern Michigan College,” said SMC President Joe Odenwald.
The HLC team consisting of two people, Dr. Kristin Stehouwer, Provost, Northwood University, and Dr. Gary Heisserer, Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning, Missouri Valley College, met with College administrators, faculty, and staff who play a key role in developing online courses, programs, and support services. In their final recommendation, they cited SMC's “commitment to quality,” a summative statement that echoes the strengths cited by the team that recommended the 10-year Reaffirmation of Accreditation.
"What I enjoy the most," said Dr. David Fleming, Provost, “is that the Higher Learning Commission recognizes the deliberate way our faculty and staff build online platforms from scratch in just over a year. We are able to do that because we already have proactive student support services, whether in the form of financial aid, consulting, library or tutoring services.”
Higher Learning Commission approves SMC online program
HLC team members praised how “SMC moved student support to an online environment due to the pandemic and now continues to support all students through online and virtual options.”
“The unsung heroes for this recommendation were our initial Online Task Force and later our Distance Education Advisory Committee,” said Fleming.
The Distance Education Advisory Committee, chaired by Fleming and Professor of Business/Instructional Design and Technology Specialist Jim Benak, will now be tasked with continuing to monitor the success of SMC's online offerings as well as proposing additional courses that students can complete entirely online at Southwestern University of Michigan.