Pictured:
Front Row (L-R): Justin Jacqmain (PSY), Jake Dunkerson (HS/OT), Jennica Young (HS), Maddy Searles (HS), Katalin Geeck (PSY), Tim Pionk (PSY)
Back Row (L-R): Evan Nudi (PSY), Dr. Charles Weaver (HS), David Mudd (PSY), Dr. Jeff Smith (HS), Kasey Moritz (PSY), Bob Underly (PSY)

Winning Student Research and Creativity Institute proposals were chosen through a competitive selection process.

More information about the SRCI program can be found on the SRCI website 

In addition to the Lansing Promise Scholarship and the Promise Guarantee Scholarship awarded by the Lansing Promise Zone Authority, Lansing Promise Scholars will receive SVSU’s Cardinal Commitment Scholarship or other federal, state or external scholarships and grants to cover their entire tuition.

Jayme King, executive director of Lansing Promise: “What excites us most here at Lansing Promise about this partnership with Saginaw Valley State is that it gives our students more options for their future. It expands opportunities and still allows them to dream big.”

“We look forward to a strong partnership with the Lansing Promise and to continuing to welcome Lansing students to our campus,” said Ken Fettig, SVSU’s vice president of enrollment management. “We know SVSU is a great place for Lansing students to come for a world-class education and our top-ranked campus and housing.”

SVSU enrollment this fall stands at 6,849 students. The university’s award-winning residence halls, ranked No. 2 among all public universities in the United States, are filled to capacity, SVSU residence halls are ranked No. 2 among all public universities in the United States, and the campus is ranked No. 3 in Michigan.

The Gobi Desert in China is vast — roughly 500,000 square miles — and sparsely populated, so when a small Chihuahua mix joined ultrarunner Dion Leonard on day two of a grueling 155-mile, seven-day race across the desert in 2016, it was surprising, to say the least. What is even more surprising is that the dog, which Leonard later named Gobi, ran with him for approximately 80 miles in extreme conditions.

Along the journey, Leonard decided to adopt Gobi and take her back to his home in Edinburgh. While Leonard was making arrangements at home, Gobi went missing in Urumqi, China, a city of three million people. Leonard returned to China at once and formed a search party to find Gobi. Despite long odds, the dog was found, largely unharmed. Following surgery and a four-month quarantine in Beijing, Gobi joined Leonard in Edinburgh.

The “Finding Gobi” lecture is free and open to the public. Doors open one hour before the lecture begins. This event is co-sponsored by SVSU’s Office of International Programs, Zahnow Library, College of Education and Department of Athletics. 

Directed by Letícia Grützmann, SVSU assistant professor of music, the concert reimagines the traditional choir performance as a full-scale pop and rock show, featuring more than 50 SVSU student performers, guest professional musicians, and special guests from Major Chords for Minors, a nonprofit music education studio in Saginaw.

Audiences can expect beloved hits from legendary artists including ABBA, Queen, The Rolling Stones, Neil Diamond, Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, the Mamas & the Papas, Extreme, Toto, Bee Gees, The Beach Boys, Kansas and Bon Jovi.

“This concert celebrates the music that has defined generations,” said Grützmann. “We want audiences to experience the power of choral music in a fresh and exciting way while highlighting the extraordinary talent of our students and collaborators.”

A unique feature of the performance is a partnership with Major Chords for Minors, a local music education organization that serves students through high school age. The collaboration provides young musicians an opportunity to perform alongside SVSU students while introducing them to the university’s academic and artistic opportunities.

The event is sponsored by the SVSU Alumni Relations Office, the SVSU Department of Music, the SVSU Choral Program, and the Board of Major Chords for Minors.

“ICONS” promises an unforgettable evening filled with iconic songs, powerful performances and a celebration of music's enduring impact. 
This event is free and open to the public; however, ticket reservations are required. Tickets can be secured online at svsu.edu/iconsconcert or at the box office beginning one hour before showtime. Questions can be directed to the music department office at 989-964-4159 or email at music@svsu.edu. 

On September 16, 1990, the tanker ship Jupiter was unloading gasoline at a pier in Bay City, on the Saginaw River. In the wake of a passing carrier ship, the Jupiter broke free from its moorings, rupturing its discharge hose and pier pipeline and spilling gasoline onto the pier and deck. Sparks from damaged cables ignited the fuel. Spreading flames triggered a series of explosions, killing one and injuring 11 others.

In writing his book, Oliver drew on newspaper archives, Coast Guard investigations and eyewitness accounts to reconstruct how a series of small oversights — in equipment, procedure and human judgment — aligned to produce catastrophe. The book places the Jupiter explosion within a broader history of the Saginaw River, tracing its evolution into a vital artery of Michigan industry.

This lecture is free and open to the public. It is hosted by SVSU’s Center for Public Policy & Services and the Henry Marsh Institute for Public Policy. 

Saginaw Valley State University invites community members to learn more about this foundation document during a “Writing the Constitution” event on Friday, Oct. 2, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Center for Community Engagement and Experiential Learning, Gilbertson Hall North 103. The event is open to the campus community and the public. 

Participants will have the opportunity to copy the United States Constitution by hand while reflecting on the document’s significance as part of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The event is part of a statewide series organized by Michigan Writers. 

The event is sponsored by SVSU’s Cardinals Vote, English Department and the First-Year Writing Program, along with the College Republicans, College Democrats and Pi Sigma Alpha. 

Students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to attend. Light snacks will be provided. 

After the event, attendees are encouraged to attend SVSU’s performance of “What the Constitution Means to Me,” by Heidi Schreck, at 7:30 p.m. in the Malcolm Field Theatre for the Performing Arts. Tickets can be purchased in advance and are free for SVSU students. For more information and to reserve your tickets, please visit . 

For more information, please email the Cardinals Vote team at cardsvote@svsu.edu.

The Fitness Court® is a free outdoor gym that provides a full-body workout in as little as seven minutes, featuring seven stations with simple apparatus designed for body weight exercises: core, squat, push, lunge, pull, agility and bend.

The SVSU Priority Health Fitness Court® was developed by SVSU, Priority Health and the National Fitness Campaign to expand free access to high-quality workouts and create equitable access to exercise for people throughout the region. SVSU received a $50,000 grant from NFC and Priority Health as part of the 2025 Priority Health – MI Healthy Campus Campaign to bring the Fitness Court® to SVSU. It will be managed by the Center for Community Engagement and Experiential Learning.

“Saginaw Valley State University is committed to promoting health, wellness, physical activity and learning on campus and throughout the communities we serve,” said Dawn Hinton, SVSU associate provost. “The SVSU Priority Health Fitness Court® is our latest initiative to positively impact the wellbeing of our region.”

The Fitness Court is designed for adults of all abilities age 14+. Workouts are adaptable for all fitness levels, allowing participants to move at their own pace. Users also may download the free Fitness Court® App, which features trainers who lead short, ability-based workouts, enhancing the wellness experience. SVSU is one of 30+ campaign partners building a network of Fitness Courts across the state, with the help of Priority Health.

“At Priority Health, we believe all people have the right to a healthy life and that’s why we are committed to investing in the community to help reduce barriers to free, accessible fitness and improve wellness for the neighbors of Saginaw Valley State University,” said Nick Gates, president of Priority Health. “We are excited to partner with SVSU and the National Fitness Campaign to open this Priority Health Fitness Court where people can stay active, connect with others and prioritize their health.”

“We are excited to have SVSU join us in the journey to improve health and wellness as we work to make a powerful and long-lasting impact on health outcomes and happiness by building healthy communities across America,’’ said Mitch Menaged, founder of National Fitness Campaign. “The addition of the outdoor Fitness Court®, along with digital wellness programming, demonstrates a tremendous commitment to the health and wellbeing within the community.”

The public is invited to attend the launch event on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 4:30 p.m. to try the Fitness Court®. For more information, visit https://www.svsu.edu/communityengagement/. For more information on Priority Health’s support of NFC, please visit https://www.nationalfitnesscampaign.com/michigan. 

Young, an artist and visual art teacher, was selected to create the CCEEL mural following a call for artists in July. He receives an award of $1,000 to cover his time and materials.

The mural will be unveiled during the CCEEL’s grand opening on Wednesday, Sept. 23. The public is invited to the grand opening, which begins at 5 p.m. in Gilbertson Hall GN103. Registration is not required. More information can be found on the CCEEL’s website.

Young is an acrylic artist, muralist and art educator in Detroit. He blends a variety of styles — contemporary, abstract, portraiture and urban-inspired imagery — to create bold works. He earned both a Bachelor of Arts in visual arts education and a Master of Arts in Teaching from SVSU. “I am

humbled to be given the chance to represent my art and creativity for my alma mater,” Young said. “I want to represent the people that make up this community. I want to represent the Center for Community Engagement, and I want viewers to see themselves in this project.”

Candidates for the commission were asked to propose a design that represents the CCEEL’s mission to develop and nurture community partnerships that positively impact the quality of life throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region.

“We are excited to highlight the work of one of our alum,” said Dawn Hinton, associate provost at SVSU. “In this project we wanted the artwork to reflect what the Center for Community Engagement and Experiential Learning is about, bringing people together and creating meaningful connections between SVSU and the Great Lakes Bay Region that we serve.

“David’s vision captures that spirit while also giving students and community members an opportunity to see themselves represented in this space. It is especially meaningful to have an SVSU alumnus create a piece that will become part of the Center and help tell the story of our connection to the region.”

Through the Center for Community Engagement and Experiential Learning, SVSU seeks to establish and strengthen meaningful partnerships with the community. The Center’s purpose is to advance mutually beneficial community engagement, experiential learning and collaborative partnerships that transform student learning, strengthen communities and elevate SVSU’s regional leadership.

SVSU is one of only three universities in the advanced tier of the Compliance Certification Board Accreditation Program. It is also the first university in Michigan to offer an accredited health care compliance and ethics certificate and one of just two Midwest universities with no law school affiliation to do so.

Twenty-five colleges and universities across the United States offer CCB accredited compliance and ethics programs. Students who successfully complete one of these certificate programs will:

• Have fulfilled the continuing education units (CEU) requirements to take a CCB certification exam
• Have fulfilled the professional work experience requirement to take a CCB certification exam
• Be eligible to sit for a CCB exam provided the exam is taken within 12 months of successfully completing the CCB accredited university program

Marilyn Skrocki, professor of health services, designed SVSU’s program, which was introduced in the fall of 2025. As a former health care attorney and compliance officer, Skrocki is keenly aware of the need to prepare professionals in health care settings to develop and oversee compliance programs that meet regulations and standards, follow best practices, and promote ethics, accountability and organizational integrity.

SVSU’s five-course healthcare compliance and ethics certificate program is fully online and can be completed in as little as one year, making it accessible for working professionals as well as graduate students. Another benefit is that one of the program’s three-credit courses is also required in SVSU’s Master of Science in Health Administration (MHA) degree program, meaning students who pass that course can leverage the credits for either the MHA degree or the healthcare compliance and ethics certificate.

The HCCA accreditation further strengthens SVSU's commitment to preparing health care professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to promote ethical practices, regulatory compliance and organizational accountability.