SVSU will conduct two commencement exercises, at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Both ceremonies will be held in the Ryder Center on the university’s campus. Both ceremonies will also be livestreamed here.

Graduates from the College of Arts and Behavioral Sciences, the Scott L. Carmona College of Business, and the College of Science, Engineering and Technology will be recognized in the 10 a.m. ceremony. Graduates from the College of Education and the Crystal M. Lange College of Health and Human Services will participate in the ceremony at 2:30 p.m.

Ontario Premier Douglas Ford will address graduates at both ceremonies. SVSU President George Grant Jr will confer upon Ford an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree at the morning ceremony.

Ford, the 26th premier of the province, was first elected to the position in 2018 and re-elected in 2025. In this role he oversees a broad provincial mandate encompassing health care, education, infrastructure, economic development and social services for a population of more than 16 million residents. He also represents Ontario within the Great Lakes‑St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers organization, working with U.S. governors and Canadian premiers to strengthen cross‑border cooperation on economic development, environmental stewardship and regional trade impacting Michigan and the broader Great Lakes region.

Prior to entering the political arena, Ford gained practical business experience in his family’s business, Deco Labels and Flexible Packaging, a printing company established by his father in 1962. Rising through the organization, Ford served as president from 2002 until he stepped away in 2018 to serve as Ontario premier.

Following the May 2 commencement, this semester’s graduates join more than 56,500 SVSU alumni in all 50 states and 62 countries. More than 47,500 SVSU graduates live in Michigan, building careers in high-demand fields.

As part of the relationship, SC4 graduates will also receive guaranteed admission to SVSU, further strengthening a seamless transfer experience for students across the region.

“Expanding educational offerings, degree pathways, internship experiences and more is good for our students, good for our communities, good for our employers and good for our state,” said George Grant Jr, president of Saginaw Valley State University. “Like SC4, we believe that students should be challenged in the classroom — we want them prepared in their career fields — but we want to remove confusion in other areas so students can focus on learning. These agreements are an important step in that direction and will help students build their careers to meet the workforce needs our employers face every day.”

As part of the agreement, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) concurrent pathway agreement was finalized, providing SC4 nursing students with a streamlined, coordinated route to complete their BSN degree at SVSU. This innovative pathway allows students to enroll simultaneously at both institutions, meeting critical workforce needs while accelerating career advancement.

“This initiative is about removing barriers and expanding opportunity,” said SC4 President Kirk Kramer. “Our organizations share a common vision of helping all students prepare for high demand careers. By bringing SVSU programs to the SC4 campus, students can earn advanced degrees close to home, saving time and money while staying connected to their community.”

The MOU establishes a framework for growing academic collaboration, including the development of new degree pathways aligned with regional workforce demands. SC4 and SVSU are currently finalizing the initial programs to be offered, with the goal of launching courses on the SC4 campus in Port Huron as early as this fall.

As the project evolves, additional programs are expected to follow, providing students with expanded options to complete advanced degrees locally. These future offerings will continue to build seamless, student-centered pathways that support educational attainment and strengthen the regional economy.

By combining SC4’s long history — over 100 years — in providing accessible, high-quality education with SVSU’s robust upper-division and graduate programs, the endeavor represents a powerful investment in the future of St. Clair County. Together, the institutions are creating new possibilities for learners — from recent high school graduates to working adults — to achieve their academic and professional goals. The work is perfectly aligned with Michigan’s Sixty by 30 goal, which aims to increase the number of working-age adults with a postsecondary degree or skills certificate to 60% by 2030.

For students throughout the Thumb and beyond, the message is clear: four-year degrees and advanced educational opportunities are coming to Port Huron, strengthening career prospects and the St. Clair County region.

The state championship event is an economic boon for businesses throughout the community, with past competitions generating more than $4 million in direct spending.

FIRST in Michigan seeks to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders and innovators. Their mission is to establish a sustainable robotics competition team at every high school in the state. Teams compete in qualifying district events, with winners being determined by a point system. The 160 top-ranked teams advance to the state championship. Winners at the state level will advance to the FIRST championship in Houston. 

SVSU faculty, staff and students volunteer their time to support local schools and education programs and on campus during the FIRST in Michigan state tournament. 

For more information about the competition at SVSU, visit .