2025-2026 College Catalog

The Purpose of a College Catalog

The purpose of a college catalog is to be of use to current or potential students and family members, to serve as a historical document, to describe the nature and scope of programs available, to prepare students with the tools and resources for academic success, and to outline the policies that govern a student’s education. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy at the time of publication.

Students have the responsibility to become familiar with catalog content as they pursue their educational goals. The administration, faculty, and staff share in the responsibility to abide by the content of these pages and make learning come alive to students. The catalog should be used as a guide in conjunction with the student’s program-planning tools and academic advisor to ensure that the necessary requirements are met for graduation.

The college reserves the right to change any part of the catalog and to make any changes retroactive for students currently enrolled. References to SMC throughout the catalog are references to Southwestern Michigan College. Items not specifically addressed in this catalog may be covered in department, program, or school handbooks. Those resources are not designed to supersede the content published in this catalog, but when items are not found in this catalog, those handbooks should be referenced and followed.