SVSU TODAY

Week of September 1, 2025

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Marcia Ditmyer, dean of Saginaw Valley State University’s College of Health and Human Services, has been named the recipient of the YWCA Great Lakes Bay Region’s Lifetime Achievement Award for 2025. Ditmyer will be honored during the organization’s 13th annual Women of Achievement Awards luncheon on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at SVSU.

The 2025-2026 academic year is off to a great start! First-year students moved into their residence halls Wednesday and Thursday, August 20 and 21, and the Cardinal community showed up to help the process run smoothly!

To best serve the SVSU campus community and comply with federal and state guidelines and requirements, SVSU is offering training on Title IX and hazing prevention.

Faculty and staff have received an email from SVSU's training partner, Vector Solutions, that includes a link to the training module. The self-paced training must be completed by Saturday, Nov. 1.

For more information, contact the Office of Diversity Programs at ext. 4068.

Saginaw Valley State University welcomed students and teachers from Tokushima Municipal High School in July, adding a new chapter to a Sister City friendship between Saginaw and Tokushima that began in 1961.

SVSU served as the home base for the exchange, giving our guests a warm and supportive environment throughout their stay. From the moment they arrived on campus, faculty, staff and students in the Office of International Programs (OIP) worked to make them feel welcome and at ease. OIP invited Phillip Hanson to serve as the coordinator of the short-term summer program and Melojeane Zawilinski to serve as the English teacher for the guest students this year.

The visit strengthened the ties between Saginaw and Tokushima and reaffirmed SVSU’s role as a place where international friendships grow. 

SVSU will meet Northwood for an exhibition baseball game at Dow Diamond. The Axe Ball will take place Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $5.50 for adults. SVSU students (with I.D.) and children 12 and under see the game for free. 

Join the SVSU Support Staff Association and University Police to Pack the Pantry! This campuswide initiative aims to restock the Cardinal Food Pantry for the start of the semester.

Whether you’re donating food items, kitchen supplies, hygiene items or dollars, your support helps ensure every Cardinal has what they need to succeed.

So far, the initiative has garnered 524 donations toward the goal 4,000 (items and dollars). Donations will be accepted through Friday, Sept. 26, and every bit counts.

Together, we can ensure all cardinals have what they need to succeed! 

Learn more, find donation bin locations or make an online gift with the link below!

Faculty/Staff parking permits for 2025-2026 are now available.

There is no charge for the permit, but you must have one displayed in your vehicle to park in designated faculty/staff areas.

Permits will be processed and sent by interoffice mail to staff and full-time faculty. Adjunct faculty permits will be mailed to the home address on file. Permits expire on September 15, 2026.

If you have questions, contact Parking Services at 989-964-4141.

Saginaw Valley State University is dedicated to maintaining and enhancing its brand identity through a comprehensive licensing program.

Any individual, business or organization that wishes to produce merchandise featuring SVSU's trademarks or name must obtain a license. This requirement applies to items sold to SVSU departments, campus organizations and registered student organizations, as well as items intended as gifts or for personal use.

For more information contact the office of University Communications at 989-964-4039.

SVSU football hosts Gannon University for the Hall of Fame game tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 6, at 2 p.m. Next Saturday, Sept. 13, SVSU meets Northwood at home for the annual Axe Bowl.

Women's volleyball plays in the Walsh Invitational in North Canton, Ohio, tomorrow, September 6. On Friday and Saturday, Sept. 12 and 13, the team will play in the Cedarville Invitational in Cedarville, Ohio.

Men's soccer plays Illinois-Springfield in Illinois on Sunday, Sept. 7. The team hosts Tiffin on Thursday, Sept. 11, then meets Northwood at home on Saturday, Sept. 13.

Women's soccer travels to Illinois to play McKendree on Sunday, Sept. 7. On Sunday, Sept. 14, the team will play the University of Findlay at Findlay.

Men's golf travels to Pierson, north of Grand Rapids, to play in the Pilgrims Run Invitational, hosted by West Texas A&M, on Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 8 and 9. 

If you have suggestions, comments or something to share with us, please e-mail svsutoday@svsu.edu

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