A Message From The Dean
The College of Arts and Behavioral Sciences is the largest and most diverse academic unit at Saginaw Valley. It offers many basic skills courses to prepare students for university study and also offers a majority of the General Education courses designed to provide all SVSU students with a well-rounded education; an understanding and appreciation of a wide range of knowledge and experiences. Through its fourteen academic departments, and two graduate programs, the College is dedicated to providing students with intellectual skills and analytical abilities in preparation for success in a complex and ever-changing world.
The faculty of the College have a diverse array of professional and academic backgrounds and are dedicated to excellence in teaching. The ABS faculty are involved in scholarly research as well as university service and community service. Ninety percent of ABS faculty hold the terminal degree in their respective fields. This professorate includes researchers, artists, musicians, humanists, and behavioral scientists. The faculty in the professional programs have appropriate applied and administrative backgrounds in criminal justice and human service agencies, in addition to their academic credentials.
The Office of Faculty Support and Sponsored Programs works very closely with the College to facilitate grant acquisitions and ongoing grant management. Such grants have included fellowships for Fulbright-Hays, Fulbright Scholars, and National Endowment for the Humanities. Grant activities have also involved the funding of a variety of teaching and research initiatives and guest speaker appearances. The College is also very closely linked to the SVSU Writing Center where students receive feedback and technical support on their written assignments. Moreover, the College staffs the new Social Studies Institute with faculty from a variety of disciplines and works with the Office of Career, Planning, and Placement which is linked to the field work programs.
The Office of the Dean coordinates the course scheduling and staffing, various grant initiatives, and fosters interdisciplinary research collaboration between departments.
In addition, the Office works with departments in the development of new course offerings and curricula options, oversees the internal unit grant process to facilitate faculty research, and, along with the faculty, works with various community-based projects related to academic program goals. Examples include forging linkages with the Michigan 10th Judicial District - Family Court to develop a Restorative Justice Institute, certain English faculty members offering special classes in the Saginaw Regional Correctional Facility, and facilitating cooperative arrangements with a vast array of community agencies participating in both Social Work and Criminal Justice internships.
The Dean's Office is also instrumental in working towards the development of articulation agreements in collaboration with the SVSU Office of Transfer Student Programs.
In the College, there is a deliberate integration of "pure knowledge" with applied or professional knowledge and skills. That is, our arts, humanities, and behavioral sciences curricula combine both types of knowledge to prepare our students to succeed in their personal and professional lives. The College of Arts and Behavioral Sciences shall continue to occupy a central role at the University, producing alumni with broad-based knowledge, excellent communications skills, and professional proficiencies to excel in both public and private sectors For more information on the College and its programs, please e-mail us at dbachand(at)svsu.edu or cdorne(at)svsu.edu
Write to:
Dr. Donald Bachand, Dean
College of Arts and Behavioral Sciences
Wickes 358
Saginaw Valley State University
7400 Bay Road
University Center, MI 48710
From Left to Right: Donald. J. Bachand, PhD - Dean of the College; Clifford K. Dorne, PhD - Associate Dean; Juanita Garcia - Administrative Secretary; Becky Clifford - Senior Secretary; Sarah Coleman - Work Study Student.