Distance Learning receives award for exemplary course development

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The award recognizes the work done to develop HIST 151: Early America – U.S. History for online students.

For nearly two decades, Anthology’s Exemplary Course Program has honored higher education instructors and course designers for excellence in online course design.

Schoolcraft College’s online course development of HIST 151: Early America – U.S. History for online students received a 2023 Exemplary Course Program Award from Anthology, an education technology services company. The Exemplary Course Program Awards applies “key characteristics of high-quality online courses within the framework of Course Design, Interaction and Collaboration, Assessment, and Learner Support” (Anthology, 2023). 

Spearheaded through the design work of Dr. Steven Berg, full-time English and History professor; Jason Kane, Lead Instructional Designer; and Rena Yuzon, Course Manager, the HIST 151 online course, which launched in its new format in the Spring 2022 term, added unique features, expanding and enhancing the Ready to Teach online teaching framework.

“In addition to quality standards we strive for with all of our courses, we embedded an additional layer of content focusing on intrapersonal skills,” said Jason Kane, lead instructional designer for Distance Learning who assisted in the development of the course. “This layer involves tying content in the course more deliberately to soft skills, reading strategies, research strategies, and student autonomy.”

While the previous version of the class was developed well, Kane said, the new version built on that development and pushed the boundaries in hopes of creating scalable strategies applicable to other developments as well.

An award glass in design
The award given for the development of HIST 151: Early America – U.S. History by Anthology’s Exemplary Course Program.

The content is also broken down to encourage a variety of reading strategies, another way to promote student-centered thinking.

“Some content should be read deeply, some can be skimmed, some can be read linearly. The assignments are all tied to strategies that match best with the expected student outcome,” Kane said. “Additionally, research strategies are built throughout the course encouraging students to become active historians.”

The award is just the latest award for Schoolcraft College’s Distance Learning program, which has received other awards for its course development, including two additional Exemplary Course Program Awards in previous years.

Schoolcraft College’s Distance Learning program has provided opportunities for learning off-campus for more than 40 years. Utilizing the latest technology, the college’s course development teams (i.e., a subject matter expert, instructional designer, and course manager) continue to forge innovative instructional approaches in delivering online educational opportunities for all students.

“This award is a collaborative and creative demonstration of the efforts Distance Learning and Schoolcraft online faculty make to continually serve our students through engaging learning experiences,” said Lori Timmis, Dean of Distance Learning. “Finding new, exciting ways to educate students in support of the college’s mission of transformative learning has been our goal since the beginning, and this award exhibits Schoolcraft remains on the cutting edge of quality online education.”

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The $11 million renovation saw major changes to the American Harvest restaurant and Main Street Café, as well as the addition of the Collaborative Learning Studio and The Craft Grille.

The crown jewel of Schoolcraft College shown brightly Sept. 21 as the ribbon was cut on the brand-new Vistatech Center.

The College recently celebrated the completion of the $11 million renovation that took about a year to complete. The ribbon cutting marked the opening of the American Harvest restaurant, the Main Street Café and the brand-new Craft Grille, a dedicated brewpub serving up a new menu and award-winning beer created by Brewing and Distillation students.

“We’re so proud of what the Vistatech Center has become with this new renovation,” said Dr. Glenn Cerny, president of Schoolcraft College. “The new offerings will provide our students and the community with the best facilities in the region.”

More than 150 people from across the college and community attended the grand opening to help celebrate the new facilities.

New spaces also include the Collaborative Learning Studio, a one of a kind offering with unlimited possibilities. Equipped with cameras and full demonstration kitchen capabilities, the Collaborative Learning Studio is the perfect place to hold an event and be as creative as possible.

Also new is the prefunctionary space, now named “Town Square,” which adds more space for events and gives off a sophisticated vibe.

Student chefs behind a table of food
Culinary Arts students serve food to guests at the Vistatech Center grand opening Sept. 21.
Chefs migrating bread onto a plate
Chef Jeffrey Gabriel, a Certified Master Chef and Professor Emeritus, does a presentation using naan bread in the Collaborative Learning Studio during the Sept. 21 Vistatech Center grand opening.

The space was recently completed after several years of construction that transformed the front end of the building, which marked its 20th anniversary earlier this year. In addition to a community space, the Vistatech Center also houses our award-winning culinary arts department.

A major supporter of the new space was the Schoolcraft College Foundation, which raised millions of dollars to help make the new Vistatech Center a reality.

The public is welcome to return to the Vistatech Center and enjoy its culinary offerings. The Main Street Café is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The American Harvest is open for lunch select Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and is open for dinner on select Wednesdays and Thursdays, with reservations available on OpenTable. The Craft Grille will open to the public Oct. 4, and will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, as well as 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

More information, including how to book spaces, can be found at schoolcraft.edu/vistatech.

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Connor Lloyd enrolled at Schoolcraft College after earning his bachelor’s degree to reach 150 college credits, a requirement for a Certified Public Accountant license.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan-Dearborn, Connor Lloyd put in his application to take classes at Schoolcraft College.

It seems like an unusual timeline to most people, but makes perfect sense given Lloyd’s area of study: he enrolled to put the finishing touches on earning his Certified Public Accountant license, which required additional coursework beyond the amount needed for a bachelor’s degree. These additional college classes can be in any subject and taken anywhere, which prompted Lloyd to look at Schoolcraft College for the remaining classes he needed rather than attending a pricier four-year institution.

Becoming a CPA has several requirements: candidates must complete 150 credit hours total of college education, which includes receiving at least a bachelor’s degree and completing courses in subjects such as auditing, accounting principles and general business. In addition, they must also take and pass the Uniformed Certified Public Accountant Examination, something they can take after earning a bachelor’s degree.

When Lloyd began looking at ways to earn the additional credits, he learned about the options at Schoolcraft College and decided to finish his coursework here.

“When I learned that a master’s degree was not required for the CPA license, I immediately thought of the possibility of taking courses at Schoolcraft to save a ton of money and make education more accessible and flexible while I studied for the CPA exams,” he said. “After I inquired with the CPA office to confirm that this plan was acceptable, I enrolled at Schoolcraft, taking courses that were interesting to me (i.e., languages and nutrition) or other accounting related courses (i.e., small business entrepreneurship and Quickbooks).”

Lloyd needed 24 more credits after he graduated with his bachelor’s degree, opting to take all of them online through Schoolcraft College as a non-degree-seeking student. It was a move, he said, he would advise others to follow. 

“I highly recommend taking these added courses at Schoolcraft because some of the course offerings are very unique and can help fill out one’s understanding of accounting and add further technical skills (i.e. Quickbooks, Excel, more advanced computer programs),” he said. “While I only took courses online at Schoolcraft, my experience interacting with professors and other students was great. Specifically, I really enjoyed discussing the accounting profession and working with Professor Michelle Randall during my time taking the Quickbooks course. I also really enjoyed taking French with Professor Anita Süess Kaushik.”

Lloyd has worked as a Staff Accountant in the Assurance Department at Ernest & Young since January.

Randall, a professor of accounting, said she hopes plenty of other students seeking to become a CPA realize the value of taking their additional coursework after earning their bachelor’s degree at Schoolcraft College.

“Taking classes here at Schoolcraft College provides CPA candidates with a great experience,” she said. “Not only do students save money, but they also get the chance to strengthen their skills by enrolling in a wide variety of courses.”

Those looking to take classes at Schoolcraft College can get more information by visiting schoolcraft.edu/get-started.

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The new event, put on by the Livonia Chamber of Commerce and the Schoolcraft College Manufacturing and Engineering Center, invites young people to learn more about high-demand jobs.

Teenagers can get a sample of jobs in public safety, energy, health and advanced manufacturing during a new career-exploration event coming to Livonia this fall.

Touch a Job is a free event for middle- and high-school students who want to learn about in-demand, good-paying careers that require an associate degree or skill certificate. This event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30 at the Schoolcraft College Manufacturing and Engineering Center.

Young people can explore such careers as 3-D printing, advanced manufacturing, computer aided design, electric vehicles and mobility, energy, firefighters, health careers, police officers, robotics and welding. Sessions will be led by the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, Schoolcraft College, AlphaUSA, Trane, the Livonia Fire Department and the Livonia Police Department.

Career demonstrations will take place in 30-minute sessions at the MEC, Livonia Police training center, and the AlphaUSA facility along Glendale, west of Merriman Road. Students can visit up to five sessions of their choice. Shuttle buses will be available to transport visitors between sites.

The Livonia Chamber of Commerce, Livonia Kiwanis Club and City of Livonia Economic Development are also partners in the event.

“This is a new experience that introduces these career options to young people and their parents,” said Livonia Chamber President Dan West. “Two-thirds of future jobs are in these types of fields, and our economy and communities rely on them.

“We believe engaging young people in these high-tech and dynamic jobs will ignite new interests and help them and their families realize that four-year degrees are not the only way to make a good living while making a difference in the community.”

The event will also allow families to visit the MEC, the newest Schoolcraft College building that opened in 2020. Located at 13001 Merriman Road in Livonia’s industrial corridor, the MEC houses programs such as Engineering, Electronics, Metallurgy and more.

“We hope students attending Touch a Job will leave with a better understanding of what types of jobs are available to them when they graduate high school,” said Amy Jones, Associate Dean of Occupational Programs at Schoolcraft College. “Jobs in the skilled trades are in hot demand and we’re hoping students who learn more about them will consider exploring them as they get older.”

This new program is a shift from the pre-pandemic local efforts to set up student field trips to local manufacturing operations as part of the National Manufacturing Day in October. Organizers said the goal of Touch A Job is to have parents join their children as they get a feel for the tasks involved in these careers.

Students from all schools are welcome to participate in the program which will include games, food, and fun. For more information, contact the Livonia Chamber of Commerce at 734-427-2122 or email [email protected].

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Ozzy-Palooza: Welcome to Campus is a celebration of the beginning of the school year, complete with live music, food, raffles and the introduction of the new Ozzy the Ocelot mascot.

Students have a new way to mark the beginning of the new school year with the first-ever back-to-school party taking place the first week of classes.

A new event, Ozzy-Palooza: Welcome to Campus, will take place from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30 on the Green between the Forum, Liberal Arts and Bradner Library. There, festivities will help kick off the new year, which will include live music, food trucks and yard games for visitors to enjoy.

An event put on by several campus departments, Ozzy-Palooza party will also feature informational tables for several campus groups such as the fitness center, Learning Support Services, Student Activities and more. The Schoolcraft College Foundation will also raffle off a MacBook Air, an iPad and a set of AirPods to students to help them begin their studies.

Free T-shirts will also be given out with the option for students to tie-dye them, adding a groovy feel to help begin the new school year.

colorful event poster.
The first-ever Ozzy-Palooza: Welcome to Campus takes place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30 on the Green between the Forum and Liberal Arts buildings.  Enjoy live music, lawn games, food trucks, t-shirt tie-dying, raffles, and more!

Designed to welcome students for a new school year, Ozzy-Palooza will also introduce students to the event’s namesake, Ozzy. Schoolcraft College’s mascot first revealed in 2022, Ozzy the friendly ocelot will greet students and showcase a new look to kick off the year. Dr. Glenn Cerny, Schoolcraft College’s president, will also address students as they begin their studies for the upcoming year.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming students back to campus this fall, and this party is a great new way to mark the occasion,” said Melissa Schultz, Chief Student Enrollment Officer. “We can’t wait for students to return and hope they come out and enjoy this new kickoff event.”

Students are invited to come to the Green anytime during the event and are encouraged to stay and enjoy music from Double Play, a duo melding the styles of American pop, rock and country. A local group with decades of experience, they’ve played venues such as the Livonia Spree, the Howell Melon Festival, the Greektown Casino rooftop series in Detroit and more. Students are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair.

Several food trucks will also set up shop along the Green, ready to serve up their culinary creations with their wares. So come, play and enjoy the kickoff to a new school year with your fellow Ocelots!

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The agreement between the two institutions will help students and current Trinity Health employees with full tuition assistance to prepare for a career in the medical field.

Delivering a unique solution to the talent crisis in healthcare, Schoolcraft College and Trinity Health Michigan announced a program to provide tuition assistance for Trinity Health employees seeking brighter career paths in eight critical healthcare fields.

“This big pipeline of talent from Trinity Health will get access to everything they need right here on the campus of Schoolcraft, from the classrooms of our new Health Sciences Center to Trinity Health’s on-campus community healthcare facility,” said Dr. Glenn Cerny, Schoolcraft president. “There’s nothing like this in Michigan.”

While other health systems offer tuition reimbursement for employees, this partnership of two Livonia-based enterprises is unique because it provides full tuition assistance to current employees and Schoolcraft students who express interest in working for the health system.  Trinity Health will prioritize flexibility so current employees can work while in school. This allows students who would otherwise be unable to financially attend school to further their education. In addition, the partnership offers a tailored workroom-to-classroom pipeline at a community college whose campus includes a private health system facility. The Trinity Health Michigan facility opened on the Schoolcraft campus in 2021 to offer a continuum of care to Livonia residents, the surrounding communities, and Schoolcraft students and faculty. The center includes primary, specialty, and urgent care, as well as pharmacy, surgery, advanced imaging, and other ancillary services.

“This is a win-win-win-win,” said Rob Casalou, president and CEO of Trinity Health Michigan and Southeast Regions. “Trinity Health employees get a new career path for little or no tuition. Schoolcraft gets a pipeline of students. Trinity Health Michigan deepens our bench of first-class healthcare talent. And the communities of Southeast Michigan benefit from a continuum of Trinity Health Michigan services at the conveniently located Schoolcraft campus.”

group photo of leadership behind a table
Representatives from Schoolcraft College and Trinity Health Michigan at a recent signing event celebrating a new partnership between the two institutions.

Today’s news deepens the Schoolcraft-Trinity Health partnership announced last year with the broad goal of creating “new paths to educate the workforce of the future.” The new agreement, which takes effect in the fall, provides details for eligibility, applications, tuition assistance, and course offerings. Students will be trained in eight healthcare fields experiencing a shortage of workers: Surgical Technology AAS, Sterile Processing Skills Certificate, Pharmacy Technician Certificate, Pharmacy Technician Skills Certificate, LPN Certificate to ADN-RN, Radiological Technology AAS Degree, Diagnostic Medical Sonography AAS, and Emergency Medical Technology: Paramedic AAS Degree.

“Together we are driven to unlock the true potential of our employees and community by offering a diverse range of pathways, ensuring that no talent goes untapped,” said Ane McNeil, senior vice president of Human Resources at Trinity Health.  “By investing in education and skill-building, we aim to cultivate a thriving workforce that can embrace innovation and drive sustainable progress for years to come.”

Cerny said the partnership responds to state and national trends, including the fact that the healthcare industry is one-sixth of the U.S. economy and Michigan’s population of senior citizens is poised to double in the next few years. “This project is five years in the making,” said Donna Moir, a former Trinity Health Michigan medical imaging executive who now works for Cerny as Schoolcraft’s health program liaison. “Let’s be honest, nobody is moving to Michigan for these healthcare careers, which means we need to grow our own pipeline of qualified, passionate, purpose-driven healthcare professionals. There’s no better place to do that than Schoolcraft and no better career partner than Trinity Health Michigan.”

Classwork occurs in Schoolcraft’s Health Sciences Center, a short walk from Trinity’s on-campus facility. “Through the program and the hands-on experiences, I know what I need for my career before being hired,” said Adrianna, a second-year student and Trinity Health scholarship recipient. “The program is one of the best I have seen and with Trinity Health offering tuition assistance others are able to live out their dream of becoming a nurse like I am.”

The deepening relationship with Trinity Health is the latest example of Cerny’s efforts to grow revenue, maintain modest tuition rates, and create pathways to career success with private sector partnerships. Last year, Schoolcraft was a finalist for “outstanding college/corporate partnership” at the American Association of Community Colleges Awards of Excellence program for its Trinity Health partnership. Earlier this summer, Schoolcraft announced a partnership with Corewell Health to begin work toward creating a pipeline of talent for nursing specific students.

“Schoolcraft’s passion for private sector partnerships is unmatched,” Cerny said. “It’s more important than ever for colleges and universities to identify, build, and nurture relationships with the business community, not only to create a next generation workforce but to also address the steep decline in college-age students in the generation ahead. I’d like to see the Schoolcraft-Trinity Heath partnership serve as a model for all of Michigan.”

Feature Photo: Schoolcraft College President Dr. Glenn Cerny, right, and Trinity Health President and CEO Rob Casalou sign an agreement to launch a new program aimed at helping train new medical professionals.

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New state funds will provide opportunities for high school students to take classes at Schoolcraft College in several programs.

A new pilot program plans to connect high school students with occupational collegiate coursework through Schoolcraft College.

The first-of-its-kind program in Michigan will expand the College’s Early Middle College Program to include occupational options. This will allow high school students to take college courses at Schoolcraft College in new tracks, including Health Care, Public Safety, Manufacturing and Engineering. Tuition and fees, as well as books and other potential costs, would be covered by state and federal funding.

Funding for the program will come from the most-recently approved state budget, an item proposed by Sen. Dayna Polehanki that saw approval from the legislature and signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Once implemented, the program incentivizes K-12 institutions to encourage high school students to take college courses during their junior and senior years.

“This program is crucial to getting students exposed to these important career fields as early as possible, and we’re so glad to be the first to offer this opportunity in Michigan,” said Dr. Glenn Cerny, President of Schoolcraft College. “We’re confident this will help jumpstart these high school students’ collegiate careers and give them opportunities they may not otherwise have. We’re grateful to the state legislature for seeing the value in this program.”

This would expand on Schoolcraft College’s Early Middle College Track, SC Edge, which is currently offered online. Courses would include those in occupational tracks as well as Liberal Arts & Sciences prerequisites.

“I am pleased to know that young students will be able to engage with exciting career-technical opportunities at Schoolcraft College,” Polehanki said. “These funds are an investment in our youth and in our workforce.” 

The program is expected to launch in early 2024, beginning with the Clarenceville School District. This new program expands the relationship between Schoolcraft College and Clarenceville schools: the two educational systems began a partnership in 2022 that invited the district’s eighth-grade students to the College’s campuses to explore potential career opportunities. Additional schools may also be added to the new pilot program in the future.

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Preparing the perfect charcuterie boards for the holidays, photography in the city of Detroit, and a history lesson on one of the area’s most iconic department stores are just a few of the offerings from Schoolcraft College Personal & Professional Learning taking place this fall.

 Designed to teach a new skill or explore a new hobby, a wide range of non-credit courses are offered to every member of the community.

Some of the highlights of classes include:

  • New intensity workout classes, which includes Fit & Fun Drumming and Strong Nation.
  • New renewing and restorative yoga classes, including Yoga for Better Bone Health & Balance, Dynamic Flow Yoga and Vinyasa Style Yoga.
  • Culinary classes with a holiday focus including new Charcuterie Boards for Holiday Entertaining, German Breads — which features holiday Stollen — as well as beverage classes such as Cocktails for the Holidays and Champagne & Sparkling Wines. 
  • Detroit Photography, a new elective for the photography certificate.
  • J. L. Hudson’s at the holidays, a Lifelong Learning lecture that features an extensive display of Hudson’s memorabilia. This course, which returns after a four-year hiatus, is back with new video clips.

Registration opens at 8 a.m. July 19, with online, walk-in and mail-in registration options available. More than 400 courses are offered in a variety of areas, including fitness, aquatics, art, music, languages, culinary, photography and professional development.

A career program that runs only in the fall includes Level One of Digital Sculpting with Autodesk Alias. Digital sculpting is used by class A surface designers, sculptors, and modelers in the automotive, technology and other industries. This is a four-class certificate program. Learn more on the Schoolcraft College’s Digital Sculpting program web page.

Other classes that are only offered during the fall semester include:

  • Ceramics IV: Advanced Hand Building
  • Photography Fundamentals of Lighting
  • The Business of Event Planning
  • Event Invitations: Impress the Guest

Although registration opens July 19, students can register throughout the fall semester. Most PPL classes begin Sept. 9, but others begin at different points throughout the semester. To view the fall schedule of courses, visit schoolcraft.edu/ppl-fall.

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Schoolcraft College and Michigan’s largest health care system have a new agreement that will aid in the development of nurses ready to join the front lines of the health care industry.

The College and Corewell Health have teamed up to create the Corewell Health RN Scholarship Program, which will provide scholarships to 20 Schoolcraft College nursing students as well as offer guaranteed job placement at a local Corewell Health facility in southeast Michigan. Students in the program, which begins this fall, will receive up to $8,500 from the Schoolcraft College Foundation to use on tuition, books and other educational expenses during the second year of their RN nursing program.

Those who receive the scholarship will then agree to work at a Corewell Health hospital in southeast Michigan for at least two years after graduation. Graduates will also need to pass the NCLEX examination for licensure.

“It’s a great opportunity to not only have assistance with their tuition while at Schoolcraft, but to place them after graduation at a local hospital across metro Detroit, bringing their talents to the health care industry where they’re badly needed,” said Dr. Glenn Cerny, president of Schoolcraft College. “We’re grateful for the opportunity that Corewell is bringing to the Schoolcraft family.”

group photo of administrators behind Schoolcraft College table
Representatives from Schoolcraft College and Corewell Health at the signing for the creation of the Corewell Health RN Scholarship Program. The program will provide scholarships to 20 students, who will be placed to work in a Corewell Health hospital upon graduation.

Corewell Health — which has hospitals in Farmington Hills, Wayne, Royal Oak, Troy, Dearborn, Trenton, Taylor and Grosse Pointe — is excited to bring these students into its facilities, said Nancy Susick, RN, Chief Operating Officer, Acute & Post-Acute Care, Corewell Health East. She said the hope is that graduates will work longer than the required two years as a part of the scholarship agreement.

“We’re hoping it will be much longer than that, because we have lots of great career paths for our nurses,” she said. “Registered nurses, as everyone knows, are just vital to our health care and more in demand than ever before. Corewell Health is very honored to be able to be a part of educating and certainly employing the next generation of health care providers.”

The agreement — which will award 20 scholarships to students in the second year of their nursing program — was signed during an event July 13 in the Health Sciences Center at Schoolcraft College.

Both Cerny and Susick said they look forward to the two institutions working together in the future, with Susick saying they have plenty more ideas for partnerships.

“You’ve been wonderful to work with and to create this partnership,” Susick said to Cerny at the ceremony. “And just so you know, there’s going to be many, many more partnerships and many other things we’d like to do with Schoolcraft College.”

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Get a head start on college with this free program beginning later this summer. 

A free program aimed at kick-starting students’ collegiate careers offers plenty of benefits before the students begin later this fall. 

Step Ahead with Schoolcraft College is a new, grant-funded summer bridge program being offered to eligible students beginning July 31. By enrolling, students can earn college credit, discuss academic goals with advisors and even receive a free Chromebook. As a part of this program, students will take a College and Beyond 102 course with a focus on enhancing math and English skills. These offerings are designed to help springboard them into more rigorous coursework as they begin their collegiate careers. 

“We are thrilled to be able to offer this program,” said Jennie Rokakis, Learning Support Services Assistant. “This unique summer bridge program will help to prepare first time and returning college students to build student success skills such as time management, study skills, and career exploration; while also building in good habits for success such as visiting advisors and Academic Success Coaches.” 

The accelerated program is free to students and includes meals, swag, and other supplies in addition to the Chromebook to assist them in their studies. Once students complete the program, they may qualify to receive scholarships or awards to apply toward the fall semester if they enroll at Schoolcraft College, which may be applied in addition to the currently offered Michigan Achievement Scholarship. 

To enroll, students must have a GED, high school diploma or a certificate of completion and plan to take a college-level or co-requisite math or English course this fall. 

“This is a great opportunity for students when it comes to preparing for their first semester of college,” said Matthew Blagdurn, Lead Academic Success Coach in Mathematics. “They’ll be able to hit the ground running in the fall semester.  Our team of coaches will continue to support these students as they begin their first semester at Schoolcraft, helping to make sure they stay on track.” 

Students can drop in anytime between 10am-5pm at the Learning Center located in the Bradner Library during the optional onboarding week, which takes place July 24-28. The course and program take place Monday through Friday, July 31 through Aug. 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with lunch provided at no cost. Students interested in enrolling or looking for more information can fill out this interest form to determine eligibility. Don’t delay — registration for this program closes on Wednesday, July 12 at 5:00 pm. 

Photo Caption: Students in a classroom at Schoolcraft College. Those interested in enrolling in Schoolcraft College’s Step Ahead Program can still sign up to kickstart their collegiate careers. 

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Students in Schoolcraft College’s Radiologic Technology Program recently received their pins for graduating from the program during a June 26 ceremony in the Vistatech Center.  

One of Schoolcraft College’s newest programs recently saw its first class graduate during a special ceremony.

Students in the first Radiologic Technology cohort recently graduated from the program, marking the completion of their studies since they began the professional track last fall. The pinning ceremony, which took place June 26 in the Vistatech Center, marked a significant milestone for both the students and the College as they prepare to work in the field.

“The experience for students is exciting and challenging. They are exposed to state-of-the-art technology and how radiographers provide diagnostic imaging,” said Jufauri Ely, Program Director for Radiologic Technology. “The students must demonstrate passion for patient care and the knowledge of human anatomy.  They are taught about radiographic equipment, safety, physics and proper patient positioning.”

The field of radiologic technology is a growing one: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states jobs growth will increase 6% between 2021 and 2031, with hospitals, physicians’ offices, and outpatient radiology and imaging clinics expected to be the largest employers.

attendees watching the pinning ceremony
Radiologic Technology graduates listen during the pinning ceremony for the program June 26 in the Vistatech Center.

Radiographers are health care professionals responsible for producing images of the bones and organs of the human body.  They operate radiologic equipment utilizing ionizing radiation and are responsible for creating high-quality radiographs.  These medical images are used to diagnose and treat diseases. Upon successful completion of this program, students will be qualified to sit for the registry in their field of study.

The second semester of the program sees students go out to hospital partners for training and mastery of Radiologic Examinations, spending about 32 hours for 30 weeks learning how technologists work. While many students who have graduated have employment, they are still required to pass a national certification exam with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).

student receiving their pin
Radiologic Technology graduate Erin Bernhardt receives her pin from Jufauri Ely, Schoolcraft College’s Program Director for Radiologic Technology.

The pinning ceremony marks a significant milestone in their careers, one worth celebrating as Schoolcraft College’s first class.

“The purpose of the pinning ceremony is to formally recognize and congratulate students when they have finished their allied health program, in addition to the official graduation ceremony. The pins received represent the students’ chosen profession and the school they attended. Each student has accomplished their dream,” Ely said. “It was with the support of family, friends, faculty, and those in the clinical settings that each student was able to reach out to secure a better life. No one’s efforts should go unnoticed or be forgotten.”

Schoolcraft College — which recently received accreditation from the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology — offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Radiologic Technology, as well as Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Additional Medical Imaging Programs offered include the opportunity to obtain training to test for credentials in Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and Mammography (M). Upon completion of one of these programs, students will be eligible to test for advanced registry certification by the ARRT.

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Students in a recent Children’s Literature class took it upon themselves to help Hey Y’all Detroit by donating children’s book to help their mission across the city.

Charmane Neal was overwhelmed with emotion when she heard what Schoolcraft College students did for her organization.

Neal, the founder of Detroit nonprofit Hey Y’all Detroit, recently came to campus to pick up a portion of nearly 1,000 donated children’s books collected by students in a spring Children’s Literature class.

“I’m just really grateful and words can’t explain how happy I am right now,” said Neal, who previously attended Schoolcraft College before attending Wayne State University. “I don’t think you understand the impact that this is going to have.”

The class, taught by English Faculty Member April Harden, included a Service Learning component, which for this class included collecting books over a three-week period for the Detroit organization. Hey Y’all Detroit is an initiative dedicated to paying it forward to inner city communities that has several methods of giving back, including through books, food and community gardens.

The organization had its truck used for driving around the city stolen last fall. That included many books Neal and others would lend and give to children, leaving them without just as school started.

Seeing that need, students in the class then began collecting books from all over: work, libraries, family members and more. Slowly but surely, the students amassed books and quickly figured out they had plenty of donations to pass along to Hey Y’all Detroit.

group of students holding books
Students in a spring session of Children’s Literature take a photo with Charmane Neal, founder of Hey Y’all Detroit, at Schoolcraft College. The students recently collected hundreds of children’s books as a part of their course and donated them to Hey Y’all Detroit, which had its vehicle containing its books stolen last fall.

It didn’t take long for the small class to figure out they were onto something special.

“In the first or second week, we were in the group chat and people were like, ‘I have books,’” said Angie Seranian, a student in the class. “And someone else comes up and says, ‘I have books.’ Everybody already has books right now.”

Soon, box after box filled with books accumulated in a room in the Liberal Arts building, so many that Neal could not fit them all on her car in one trip. It’s a gesture, Neal said, that is unmatched for her three-year-old organization.

“Hey Y’all wouldn’t be able to continue if it wasn’t for the generosity of people like you,” Neal said. “It’s been really hard recovering from that theft. We’re still trying to pick up the pieces.

“For it to be over 1,000 books, I don’t even know. I’m just really excited and really grateful.”

Seranian said while the students began collecting books, she’s noticed the organizations they reached out to want to continue donating to Hey Y’all Detroit.

“It wasn’t just an ‘us’ thing,” she said. “We kind of spread the word for other people to continue it now, too.”