SVSU and St. Clair County Community College signed a Memorandum of Understanding in April 2026, with plans to expand the partnership beyond the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) pathway currently offered.
Pete Lacey, Chief Collaboration Officer/SVSU Liaison at SC4, talked about the progression of the partnership.
“SC4 and SVSU leadership teams initially met in April 2025 to discuss a shared vision that would bring 4-year degree opportunities to the SC4 and Thumb region of Michigan,” stated Lacey. “After a variety of meetings and campus visits to both SC4 and SVSU, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in April 2026.”
Since the partnership began, more than 30 meetings have taken place between faculty and staff from both schools. The current opportunities of the program include a BSN pathway for SC4 nursing students and guaranteed admission to SVSU for SC4 graduates.
“In April 2026, SVSU signed a Direct or Guaranteed Admission agreement with SC4, stating that students in good standing at SC4 would be guaranteed admission to SVSU,” said Ken Fettig, Vice President for Enrollment Engagement at SVSU.
SVSU admissions and transfer staff have also held regular office hours at SC4 to help students with program planning and the transfer process.
The partnership is now looking to expand into more programs and classes at SC4 in 2027.
“We are busy moving from discussion to action with our partnership with SC4, so students in Port Huron can expect to see more SVSU classes offered at SC4’s campus in 2027, as well as the growth of programs and degree completion options in that region,” Fettig said.
The programs that are in the works include Education, Social Work, Criminal Justice, Environmental Science, Engineering, Accounting, Business and additional Health degree options.
SC4 serves five counties where four-year degree options are not currently available, making the partnership an opportunity for students in the Thumb region to continue their education closer to home.
“The SC4 service area includes 5 counties where 4-year degree options are not currently available. Student interest in an SC4/SVSU pathway is strong. SVSU is already a top transfer destination for SC4 grads and is also a popular choice for high school students in the Thumb region,” said Lacey.
The partnership also extends beyond the classroom and has brought SVSU professors and activities to the Port Huron community. SC4 recently hosted a Naturalization Ceremony featuring SVSU professor Dr. Joseph Ofori-Dankwa as the keynote speaker. The SVSU Theatre Department performed “What the Constitution Means to Me” at SC4 Oct. 9 and 10, and SVSU club hockey is scheduled to play SC4 club hockey Dec. 13.
As more programs are explored and SVSU classes are planned for SC4 in 2027, both schools will continue working together to create opportunities for students.
“Opportunities for collaboration mean exciting things for SVSU students on our main campus as our two institutions can share more opportunities and connections with each other,” stated Fettig.
