SVSU to partner with St. Clair County Community College to expand access to higher education

April 17, 2026

SVSU to partner with St. Clair County Community College to expand access to higher education

Saginaw Valley State University and St. Clair County Community College, located in Port Huron, are joining forces to expand opportunity to residents throughout the Thumb and Southeast Michigan. The two institutions signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday, April 9, entering into a partnership that will create transformative new pathways for students to earn bachelor's - and eventually master's - degrees without leaving their home community.

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.