Week of February 15, 2026
|
SVSU earns Carnegie Community Engagement Classification for Second Time
|
A tradition of involving students in research, fieldwork and service learning has earned Saginaw Valley State University the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement (CE) Classification by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education. This elective designation marks SVSU as a university that is exceptionally engaged with the community it serves. SVSU first applied for and earned the 10-year Community Engagement Classification in 2015.
|
SVSU Board Grants Tenures, Awards Honorary Degree
|
The Saginaw Valley State University Board of Control granted tenure to 7 faculty members during the Board’s regular meeting Monday, Feb. 16. Those receiving tenure, effective July 1, are:
|
- Margot Alvey, medical laboratory science
- Emily LaRocque, nursing
- Kevin Lorentz, political science
- Joshua Mike, mathematical science
- Ashley Sanders, social work
- JoAnne West, teacher education
- Colin Wood, music
|
The Board also granted an honorary degree to Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, in recognition of his efforts to build partnerships between Michigan and the Canadian province. Ford will serve as SVSU’s commencement speaker in May.
|
SVSU Receives $400k MiLEAP Grant to Support Student Retention
|
Saginaw Valley State University has been awarded a $399,995 state grant from the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential to expand and institutionalize its Cardinal Thrives initiative, a comprehensive strategy designed to remove non-academic barriers that impact student retention, persistence and degree completion.
The Cardinal Thrives initiative is directly aligned with SVSU’s Strategic Plan, specifically Institutional Priority 1.3.
Key components of the grant include building and strengthening community partnerships, improving institutional policy and practice related to basic needs, and holistic support and high impact practices.
By addressing unmet basic needs that disproportionately affect first-generation, Pell-eligible and historically underrepresented students, Cardinal Thrives supports SVSU’s strategic goal of closing equity gaps and reinforcing its commitment to community engagement.
|
Join the Office of Diversity Programs for soul food classics like catfish, cornbread and cobbler during the 16th “A Taste of Soul” luncheon.
Thursday, Feb. 26
11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Marketplace at Doan
$13.50 (credit/debit) or one meal swipe
This year’s featured culinary guests include Men of Bethel/Sons of Allen, former Saginaw Mayor Joyce Seals and SVSU’s own Shannon Williams, a business systems analyst.
|
Stand up with your colleagues, SVSU alumni and friends of SVSU to help SVSU students stand out!
SVSU’s Oppor2nity Days returns Wednesday and Thursday, March 18-19. This year, the SVSU Foundation has set the bar higher, with a fundraising goal of $200,000 to help students stay in school and support educational opportunities that build leadership, confidence and professional skills.
You can help rally the Cardinal community by becoming an Oppor2nity Days Ambassador. Sign up at svsu.edu/ambassador26.
|
FIRST Robotics Returns in April
|
SVSU’s Ryder Center will once again be humming with the energy of high school students and their robots — and a few thousand family, friends and teachers — when the FIRST Robotics Michigan State Championship comes to campus Thursday, April 16-Saturday, April 19. Watch for more information.
|
- Ava Rummler: “On Record” — Monday, Feb. 9-Friday, March 6: Ava Rummler, assistant professor of art; reception Thursday, Feb. 26, 4-6 p.m., University Art Gallery
- SVSU Theatre: “When She Had Wings” — Wednesday, Feb. 18-Sunday, Feb. 22: Malcolm Field Theatre for Performing Arts, https://www.svsu.edu/theatre/showschedule/
- Oppor2nity Days — Wednesday, March 18-Thursday, March 19: In a two-day fundraising drive, Cardinals come together to provide opportunities to SVSU students
- Theodore Roethke Poetry and Arts Festival — Friday, March 20-Wednesday, March 25: Events on and off campus, including a poetry slam, tours of the Roethke House Museum, Ted (Roethke) Talk and Brew and presentation of the Roethke Memorial Poetry Prize
- Field/Spicer Lecture — Wednesday, April 8: Shankar Vedantam, “The Challenge of Change,” 6 p.m., Rhea Miller Recital Hall
|
|
|
SVSU varsity athletic teams are active at home and on the road for competitions Saturday, Feb. 21.
Baseball is on the road, playing a doubleheader against Lake Erie College.
Women’s Lacrosse hosts Findlay at Braddock Field at 1 p.m. .
Men’s and Women’s basketball host Davenport in O’Neill Arena. The women play at will play at 1 p.m., followed by the men at 3 p.m.
|
|
|
If you have suggestions, comments or something to share with us, please e-mail svsutoday@svsu.edu
|
SVSU does not discriminate based on race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical impairment, disability or veteran status in the provision of education, employment and other services.
|
|
|
|
