Congratulations Class of 2022!

May 2, 2022 by Schoolcraft College

Schoolcraft College’s 57^th annual Commencement, scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 7, in the St. Joe’s Mercy Elite Sports Center (ESC) on the main campus, will be open to a new era.

That’s because this will be the first Commencement at ESC that will welcome guests. Last year’s graduation ceremony was open to students only due to health-related precautions.

“We’re pleased to welcome guests to this year’s Commencement,” said Dr. Glenn Cerny, President of Schoolcraft College. “Graduates share with us how important the support from family members and friends has been during their journey, so it’s our privilege to once again have their guests here in person to share in their great day.”

This year’s keynote speaker is Marina Shoemaker, the Director of Global Diversity and Inclusion Strategies DEI External Partnerships for General Motors.

“It’s our honor to have such a distinguished speaker,” Dr. Cerny said. “Marina has been a great friend to Schoolcraft College over the years, willingly lending her expertise to important initiatives, including helping incorporate a DEI component into our STARS DEI leadership program and serving as a co-chair of our Foundation’s Vision 2025 campaign.”

More than 900 applications for graduation were received by Student Records, with nearly 400 students signed up to participate in Commencement.

Skills Certificates, Certificates, Associate degrees, Bachelor of Science degrees and Post-Associate degrees will be awarded. In addition, the College will confer Honorary Degrees and recognize a Distinguished Alumni during Commencement.

The Student Reflection will be delivered by Catreese Qualls, whose many accomplishments and contributions to Schoolcraft College include:

2021/2022 Division III International Vice President, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
Michigan All-Academic Team Silver Scholar
Coca-Cola Scholar
STARS DEI mentor
Oberndorf Scholar
Kehrl Communications Arts Scholar

Ozzy the ocelot mascot — You can meet Ozzy, the new Schoolcraft College mascot, at Commencement.

Ozzy, the new Schoolcraft College mascot, will make its official debut and will be available for photos, including in a new 360-degree photo booth where users can instantly share their photos. (Maximum of four people in the photo booth.)

Traditional photo booths also will be available. Students can upload their photos on their social channels and use the hashtags #OcelotPride and #OcelotGrad.

Doors open at 12 p.m. Students are asked to arrive by 1 p.m.

A livestream will be available.

May 2, 2022 by Schoolcraft College

Short-handed staff produces excellent work

The Schoolcraft Connection student newspaper continues to add to its well-deserved reputation for excellence following outstanding performances in two key contests.

First, the Schoolcraft Connection won seven awards from the 2021 College Better Newspaper contest presented by the Michigan Press Association (MPA). The Connection competed in Division III: Two-year college publications or newspapers publishing less than weekly.

Members of the Arkansas Press Association reviewed 568 entries submitted by 16 Michigan college newspapers. Over the past nine years, the Schoolcraft Connection has won 95 awards total in this contest.

“It is more important than ever to recognize and encourage good, impactful journalism,” said Joanne Williams, associate professor of journalism and mass communication at Olivet College and Michigan College Press Association president. “That is what our college newspapers are doing, and with support and recognition from contests and professionals in the field, that will continue. Our experienced faculty and advisors will see to it as well,”

The following students received awards for their work in 2021:

1st place for Feature Story: Madison Ling
2nd place for Feature Story: Ben Bolstrom
2nd place for Editorial: Schoolcraft Connection Staff
3rd place for Feature Story: Matthew Fular and Madison Ling
3rd place for Sports News/Features: Matthew Fular
3rd place for Column Review or Sports Blog: Matt Karbownik
3rd place for Overall Best Newspaper in Division III: Schoolcraft Connection Staff

SC Connection Staff — Front row, left to right: Armando Saucedo (Multimedia Editor), Sasha Spearman (Design Intern), Vae O’Neil (Arts and Entertainment Editor), Jordan Weston (Staff Writer).
Back row, left to right: Alexander Hawthorne (Staff Writer), Ben Bolstrum (Editor-in-Chief), Matthew Kern (Managing Editor), Matt Karbownik (Layout and Design Editor).

Awards from the MCCPA

The staff followed that outstanding performance with an additional 14 awards from the Michigan Community College Press Association (MCCPA), making it a total of 21 awards for the 2021-22 academic year.

Here is a look at the Connection’s totals for the last 10 years in both yearly competitions:

MCCPA 10-year total (2012-2022): 147
MPA 9-year total (2012-2021): 95
MCCPA and MPBA combined total (2012-2022): 242

Students who received awards in the MCCPA contest:

1st place for Sports Feature Story: Ben Bolstrom
1st place for News Photo: Armando Saucedo
1st place for Feature Photo: Claire Smith
1st place for Inside Page Design: Matt Karbownik
2nd place for Front Page Design: Matt Karbownik
3rd place for Feature Story: Matthew Fular
3rd place for Personality Profile: Vae O’Neil
3rd place for Inside Page Design: Matt Karbownik
3rd place for Video Production: Armando Saucedo
3rd Place General Excellence: SC Connection Staff
Honorable Mention for Column Serious: Matthew Kern
Honorable Mention for Critical Review: Vae O’Neil
Honorable Mention for Sports News Photo: Claire Smith
Honorable Mention for Video Production: Jordan Weston

“This is a remarkable achievement for these students as they did this with only five senior editors out of the possible 10 positions on staff,” said Rena Laverty, Student Activities Technician, College Photographer and Connection Adviser. “We’re now looking for new editors to join us for the 2022-23 year. Any students interested in writing, photography, videography or design can contact us.

“All majors are welcome and encouraged. Editors are compensated up to $1,100 per semester for Fall and Winter.”

For more information, call 734-462-4422 or email [email protected].

April 25, 2022 by mlemon

Renovation, expansion will transform Culinary Arts, PPL and community programs

The Schoolcraft College Foundation has made a multi-year $1 million grant commitment to support the expansion and renovation of the College’s VisTaTech Center, with the goal of providing more experiential learning space for Schoolcraft’s renowned Culinary Arts program and the addition of a new high-tech demonstration space that provides unique opportunities for academic, professional development, and community-based education programs.

The over $6 million, 15,000-square-foot project, referred to as “VisTaTech 2.0,” includes an addition of 10,000 square feet and renovation of 5,000 square feet. The Foundation is proud to be the first funder to step up to support this exciting, student-centric initiative.

Layout map for the new center — This image shows the renovations and additions that will create “VisTaTech 2.0.”

This funding maximizes the impact of the Foundation. “I believe it goes to the heart of the Schoolcraft Foundation’s purpose,” said Schoolcraft College President Glenn Cerny. “Donors will be able to see first-hand how their contributions truly impact creating high-end educational facilities that will enhance our mission of providing transformational experiences to our students, businesses, and the community-at-large.”

Schoolcraft’s students, faculty and members of the community have come to rely on the superior facilities and services of the College, and VisTaTech 2.0 is a further step toward improving the quality and expanding the capacity of the campus infrastructure and services.

Besides expanding the existing Culinary department’s American Harvest Restaurant, the new space will include an additional Culinary classroom and new innovative space that can be used as a demonstration kitchen, multipurpose lab and high-tech educational theater. As part of the renovation, spaces will be reworked to increase effectiveness of space utilization and offer a more welcoming space for students and community guests. This includes an expanded Café retail space and Brewpub to accommodate the increasing demands for those services.

“This investment is an opportunity to support the forward-thinking vision for students and the community served by Schoolcraft College,” said Lois McEntyre, President, Schoolcraft Foundation Board of Governors. “This is the largest single grant commitment made through our Vision 2025 Campaign and a way for the College to leverage this support for future investments.”

The project will start this summer and is expected to be complete by fall 2023. For information, contact the Schoolcraft Foundation office at 734-462-4455.

April 25, 2022 by mlemon

It recognizes a key battle between Mexico and France

Cinco de Mayo is one of the more familiar, yet perhaps one of the less understood, holidays. It is not, for example, the same as Independence Day in the United States. Nor is Cinco de Mayo widely celebrated in Mexico. Fortunately, Schoolcraft College has an expert who can set the record straight.

Dr. Zach Morales, Instructor of History and College & Beyond, teaches History 153: Contemporary America, a survey of U.S. history within the last 100 years. Dr. Morales also serves as an Academic Advisor for the Center for Latino/a Studies at Wayne State University.

Dr. Morales graciously provided the following story on Cinco de Mayo:

Cinco de Mayo commemorates a battle between Mexico and France in 1862 in the City of Puebla, Mexico. It is often confused with the remembrance of Mexican independence from Spain (September 16), but both holidays celebrate freedom and democracy.

Battle scene in Puebla, Mexico — Cinco de Mayo commemorates a battle between Mexico and France in 1862 in the City of Puebla, Mexico.

The origins of the Battle of Puebla can be traced to a civil war in Mexico called the Reform War (1857-1860). The newly elected Liberal party had passed a series of reforms beginning in 1855 that separated church and state, reduced church land holdings, limited military political power, and enacted other progressive ideas, including instituting Mexico’s first bill of rights.

Upset with the reforms, the Conservative party, who favored keeping a central government that privileged the elite, led a coup d’état that took over Mexico City and ousted the Liberal party. The civil war lasted three years with both sides borrowing money from Spain, Great Britain and France. When the Liberal party emerged victorious, the European powers expected the new government to pay the debt owed by both factions. Mexico, instead, suspended all foreign debt payments for two years.

In December 1861, the European powers invaded the city of Veracruz and captured several more cities on the road to Mexico City to demand compensation. Great Britain and Spain came to an agreement with Mexican officials over their debt and left the campaign. However, Emperor Napoleon III of France intended to increase his empire by conquering Mexico and sent more French soldiers. Napoleon III was also interested in supporting the Confederate States of America, and controlling Mexico would be an advantageous strategic position.

Against all expectations, on May 5, 1862, Mexico defeated the better-equipped and larger French army. It took three weeks for the news of the Mexican victory to reach Spanish-language newspapers in California, where a celebration was held. As mentioned before, there was a Mexican civil war over democratic ideals followed by a European invasion. But Mexico’s army representing freedom and democracy had won a battle against the renowned French monarchy!

The following year, Mexico was still at war with France, and the U.S. Civil War continued. To raise wartime morale, Spanish-speaking grassroots organizations in California organized the first Cinco de Mayo celebrations to support Mexico and the Union army. The annual celebration continued afterward, and, to this day, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated all across the United States and is sparsely celebrated in Mexico, except for the City of Puebla, where the battle occurred.

For a more thorough history, I recommend reading “El Cinco de Mayo: An American Tradition” (2012) by David Hayes Bautista.

April 18, 2022 by Schoolcraft College

Part of program will discuss small-modular reactors

Jesse Deer In Water, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and a leader in CRAFT: Citizen Resistance at Fermi Two, will be the guest speaker as the Schoolcraft College International Institute’s Focus Series presents “Dangers of FERMI: The Day We Almost Lost Detroit” on Thursday, April 21.

CRAFT is a grassroots, Indigenous-led environmental activism group focused on protecting the Great Lakes. The Fermi 2 Power Plant, on the shore of Lake Erie in Newport, Michigan, supplies 20 percent of the power generated by DTE Energy.

A key focus of Jesse Deer In Water’s presentation will be the dangers of small-modular reactors, sometimes called “breeder” reactors because they produce more fuel than they consume. This is the same type of reactor that was used in Fermi 1, which suffered a partial meltdown in October of 1966 that prompted more scrutiny of the safety of nuclear power plants. Fermi 1 was permanently shut down in 1972.

“Fermi 1 had a small-modular reactor, which is the same technology that’s being pushed as new and a safe technology,” Jesse Deer In Water said. “That’s a total misconception. I’ll explain how small-modular reactors are potentially more dangerous because the fuel is enriched to a higher level, which means more heat and more waste. Plus, these plants themselves are smaller and less stable, which can lead to more problems if there’s a meltdown.”

The Fermi 1 plant had a partial meltdown in 1966.

“We’ll also talk about the solutions and what it’s going to take to replace facilities like Fermi 2 and to prevent small-module reactors from coming to our cities.”

Jesse Deer In Water, who lives in Redford, works both from the bottom up and the top down to build coalitions and understanding across the area, state and country.

“The burden of proof is on us as citizens, even though we have much less resources compared with energy companies and commissions,” he said. “We have to take things into our own hands because there’s no accountability.”

Watch a video interview with Jesse Deer In Water.

The presentation will be held from 2:30-3:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 21. You can join the Zoom meeting here. The Meeting ID is 870 6670 0492.

The event is sponsored by the Department of Sociology, the Native American Student Organization, and the Student Activities Office.

April 18, 2022 by Schoolcraft College

Free weights, weight machines, cardio machines and more are available

Like many of the members who work out there, the Schoolcraft College Fitness Center has grown stronger over the years. This year, the facility is celebrating 10 years of use and service to Schoolcraft College students, faculty and staff, as well as community members. From humble beginnings, it’s become a key gathering place and unifying location for the entire Schoolcraft College community.

Patty Donohue-Ebach, Director, Recreation Services, has been with the Fitness Center, which opened on January 31, 2012, basically since Day 1. Before her current role, Donohue-Ebach was an adjunct instructor at the College in the Physical Education Department (now Movement Science).

“The Fitness Center is a great place to work out and a great place to be,” she said. “We have a culture here that is welcoming to all. We pride ourselves on being a place that is safe, fun and supportive for all of our members and guests.”

fitness center staff — Full-time staff of the Fitness Center are (left to right): Walt Stecko, Business Office Manager; Patty Donohue-Ebach, Director, Recreation Services; and Matt Cooper, Recreation Facilities Manager.

The Fitness Center is in the Physical Education building on campus and was built within a completely redesigned and updated former Auxiliary Gym, which was underutilized. The main workout floor is nearly 11,000 square feet and has over 110 pieces of cardio and weight equipment, providing an array of options.

“I give a lot of credit to Dr. Glenn Cerny, the College’s President, with having the vision that this space could serve a higher purpose for the campus community and beyond,” Donohue-Ebach said. “Fitness and recreation centers have existed on college campuses for a long time, but in the last 20 years or so they have really become a selling point for prospective students and a ‘must have’ amenity.”

How to join

The Schoolcraft Fitness Center is open to all credit students, faculty/staff, alumni and the community as well as a variety of other college partners and their employees.

Credit students, faculty and staff are free; other memberships range from $15/month to $25/month.

To join, come to the Fitness Center to fill out their membership enrollment form to start the process. For more information, call 734-462-4348 or email [email protected].

Fitness Center hours are:

Monday – Thursday: 7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Friday: 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Recreation opportunities

In addition to the workout facilities, a number of drop-in recreation programs are available through the Fitness Center along with access to the 1/7-mile track in the St. Joe’s Mercy Elite Sports Center. All Fitness Center members, Schoolcraft employees and members of the community may participate in any of these programs.

Most are free for members of the Fitness Center or if you are a student or faculty/staff at the College. Otherwise, a small drop in fee is charged. The recreation programs include drop-in swim (run by Personal and Professional Learning, PPL), drop-in basketball, drop-in volleyball, pickleball, racquetball and wallyball.

To help provide members with a quick and easy way to access information about the Fitness Center, the team recently launched a new online information page, which also can be accessed through a QR code.

Donohue-Ebach’s full-time colleagues are Matt Cooper, Recreation Facilities Manager, responsible for day-to-day operations, among other responsibilities; and Walt Stecko, Business Office Manager, who manages financial and scheduling matters, again among other responsibilities.

“We’re also supported by great on-call staff, student employees and personal trainers,” Donohue-Ebach said. “We need that entire team to make all three of these facilities go!”

A look back

Someone who predates Donohue-Ebach’s history with Schoolcraft College – by quite a bit, actually – is Jack Washka, Professor Emeritus. Professor Washka started at Schoolcraft College in 1967, which was just six years after the College was established and three years before the gym was built.

During those early days, physical education classes and athletic events and practices were held in a variety of off-campus locations, including the Northville Community Center, Livonia Stevenson High School and the now-closed Northville Regional Psychiatric Hospital to name just a few. The weight room was on the top level of the PE building and was rather cramped.

Professor Washka is pleased to see the progress made and that the College has a first-rate fitness facility.

“Certainly the Fitness Center helps develop cardiovascular fitness, strength conditioning and the activity has great benefits as a stress-reliever,” he said. “But something I’ve noticed recently, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, is that the Fitness Center provides a place to gather and get people together. It builds a great community in addition to building a healthy body.”

old photo of a fitness center — Schoolcraft College’s fitness facilities were somewhat limited before the Fitness Center opened on January 31, 2012.

Old photo of person on bikes — Schoolcraft College’s fitness facilities were somewhat limited before the Fitness Center opened on January 31, 2012.

A look ahead

While 10 years is certainly a significant milestone for the Fitness Center, Donohue-Ebach is just as focused at looking ahead.

“We have some exciting changes coming to the workout floor in the next year,” she said. “We continue to grow and be responsive to customer and member needs in the area of fitness and exercise. We offer more choices now than ever before because people like to get fit in different ways. For some it’s playing basketball, volleyball or swimming or running or walking on an indoor track instead of on a treadmill. We want to provide all these amenities to continue to excel as a full-service fitness center.”

April 18, 2022 by Schoolcraft College

Supporting youth sports events brings visitors to campus

Schoolcraft College, recognizing its role to be a positive force in the community and support activities for young people, will open its sports facilities for two exciting events this spring and summer.

First, this weekend, the St. Joe’s Mercy Elite Sports Center (ESC), the St. Joe’s Sports Dome and the main gym in the Physical Education building will be sites of the “Mizuno Motor City Madness” volleyball tournament.

Then later this summer, the St. Joe’s Sports Dome and the College’s soccer field will be host to the “Special Olympics Unified Cup 2022 presented by Toyota” soccer event.

Sports Center front of building — Photo 1

“We are extremely pleased and proud to welcome these hard-working athletes and their dedicated families and friends to our campus to compete in our outstanding sports and recreation facilities,” said Dr. Glenn Cerny, President of Schoolcraft College. “In addition to providing transformative educational opportunities, we also want to be a good neighbor and actively support positive events in Livonia and Metro Detroit.”

Mizuno Motor City Madness will be this Saturday and Sunday, April 23 and 24. More than 500 teams, from ages 12-under to 18-under, from around the country and Canada are expected. The event is presented by Michigan Elite Volleyball Academy, which calls the ESC its home in the western suburbs.

The 75,000-square-foot facility has been a hub of activity for students, community members and youth sports since opening in October 2020. The ESC includes eight volleyball courts; a 1/7-mile track; a practice field for the Michigan Wolves Soccer Club; brand-new classrooms and equipment for Schoolcraft College’s Movement Science program; the MercyElite sports performance and training center; and the Elite Market & Smoothie Bar.

The volleyball courts also can be configured for pickleball, an increasingly popular sport that many community and Fitness Center members play regularly, especially during the winter.

Unified Cup coming this summer

Schoolcraft College will welcome the Special Olympics Unified Cup 2022 presented by Toyota starting Sunday, July 31. A total of 24 teams from around the world, ages 16-21, are expected to compete. This event will show the world how the power of sport builds and shapes a diverse community that unites and empowers people of all abilities, from all backgrounds. Teams include athletes with and without intellectual disabilities playing together.

“We encourage everyone to come to our beautiful campus, learn more about what Schoolcraft College offers and enjoy these great events,” Dr. Cerny said.

multiple volleyball court games going on — Photo 3

April 11, 2022 by mlemon

There are fewer than 80 Certified Master Chefs in the world

Schoolcraft College is on its way to having two members of its faculty become Certified Master Chefs® (CMC) as both Chef Paul Grosz and Chef Drew Sayes advanced out of Segment 1 of the recent American Culinary Federation’s (ACF) CMC exams.

The exams were held March 18-21 in the American Harvest restaurant in the VisTaTech Center on the main campus of Schoolcraft College. Segment 2 will be held later this year.

Chef Grosz and Chef Sayes — Chef Paul Grosz (left) and Chef Drew Sayes are each full-time instructors.

A CMC is considered the highest level of the profession, and demonstrates mastery of culinary competence and expertise through education, experience, knowledge and skills consistent with the master chef level. The exam was first commissioned and offered in 1981.

There are fewer than 80 Certified Master Chefs in the world, with Brian Beland, Schoolcraft College’s Department Chair of Culinary Arts, among those to hold this distinguished ranking. In addition, faculty member Joseph Decker is a Certified Master Pastry Chef® (CMPC).

Chef Grosz serves as full-time instructor and currently teaches classes associated with the American Harvest lunch service. He is co-proprietor and Chef of Cuisine Restaurant. Chef Sayes, a 2003 Oakland Community College graduate, has been a full-time instructor since January.

“We are extremely happy for the excellent results by Chef Grosz and Chef Sayes in Segment 1 of the CMC exams,” Chef Beland said. “We wish them the very best on Segment 2 and have every confidence they will do well.”

To apply for the exam, candidates must already be a Certified Executive Chef or Certified Culinary Educator, provide a letter of recommendation from current CMCs or CMPCs, and have completed education courses on sanitation and food safety, management, cost management and wine.

Chef Drew Sayes goes through one of the four modules in the Certified Master Chefs exam.

The exam modules included:

Freestyle Cuisine
Healthy Cooking
Global Cuisines
Pastry and Baking

Both Chef Grosz and Chef Sayes shared feelings of relief after the grueling exam wrapped up.

“When (it was over), I felt a bit of relieve and accomplishment, but only for a short time knowing that Segment 2 is not far behind,” Chef Grosz said. “The work is not done. We’ll take a short break, then start practicing for an excruciating next part of the exam.”

Chef Sayes echoed those thoughts.

“When the exam concluded, I was relieved and exhausted,” he said. “I was also slightly disappointed that it ended. I was gaining a lot of momentum and confidence going through each discipline; I wanted to continue and carry that into the next segment.”

Chef Grosz — In addition to teaching, Chef Paul Grosz is co-proprietor and Chef of Cuisine Restaurant.

Despite the intense pressure, each Chef felt the exam went well.

“It was the most intense experience I’ve had in my career,” Chef Sayes said. “It was challenging to adjust my mindset each day and mentally preparing for the next discipline. Lack of sleep caused by constantly thinking about what’s next also made it difficult to focus on the task at hand. Through all of that, it was a great experience and I ended up having a lot of fun throughout the process.”

Added Chef Grosz: “I feel the CMC exam went very well. What I enjoyed mostly out of it was the adrenaline during the cooking time period while we were being judged on every move we made. Cooking at the highest level in a time limited situation while experts in the field were scrutinizing everything you did was very nerve-wracking.”

Each is looking forward to the next phase of the exam.

“There’s still a lot of work to do,” Chef Sayes said. “Luckily, I’m able to take the summer and prepare. I’m looking forward to the next challenge.”

Chef Grosz also emphasized how learning never stops, taking the American Master Chefs’ Order’s motto of “Forever the Student” to heart.

“This has been 30 years in the making for myself because as a chef we continue to always learn,” he said. “Taking this exam has made me a better person, a better chef and ultimately a better instructor. I just want to thank everyone for all their support as we continue this journey. My family, Schoolcraft, my fellow instructors and the staff at Cuisine. Without their support, this would not be possible.”

Learn more about Schoolcraft College’s Culinary Arts program.

April 11, 2022 by mlemon

Opportunities in professional trades and medical assisting are available

An important success story for Schoolcraft College and area businesses has been told through the College’s registered apprenticeship program. Apprenticeships are a great opportunity for those already passionate about an occupation to “earn while they learn” as they gain important professional experience. Since 2020, 15 Schoolcraft College students have completed their apprenticeship in professional trades or medical assisting.

Logan Leinbach in action — Schoolcraft College student Logan Leinbach became the first Woodwork Manufacturing Specialist apprentice. The College worked with Leinbach’s employer, Burke Architectural Millwork; the Department of Labor; and other agencies to create this apprenticeship.

Those students will be recognized in a program on Tuesday, April 19, at the VisTaTech Center on the main campus. Attendees scheduled to appear include Livonia Mayor Maureen Brosnan; U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens; Detroit and Michigan Department of Labor officials; apprenticeship employer-sponsors; and businesses with apprenticeships in place.

The apprentices are from Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw counties and represent a wide range of communities, including Ann Arbor, Canton, Farmington Hills, Garden City, Warren, Westland, Wixom and Ypsilanti.

“Apprenticeships are really a win-win for the student and the employer,” said Pamela Linton, Apprenticeship Coordinator for Schoolcraft College. “The employers are gaining students who are establishing a foundation with their educational training and bringing that to the workplace where they’re receiving on-the-job training, customized specifically to the employer!”

“And for the students, they have a job in their profession with a company they like that has invested in them. Our latest data on medical assistants, for example, shows that after five years about 80% of the student apprentices are still with the company that sponsored them. Further, at the end of the training, students have little to no student loan debt.”

Apprenticeships at a glance

Topic	What apprenticeships offer
Emphasis	On-the-job training
Usual duration	1 to 4 years
Structure	Focus on mastering specific skills
Mentorship	Individualized training with experienced mentor
Pay	Always paid, wages at or above industry standard at conclusion
Do you earn a credential?	Yes, you get a national credential from the Department of Labor
Do you earn college credit?	Yes, and often complete Schoolcraft College certification(s) also

From the Department of Labor

Linton collaborates with area businesses and the Department of Labor (DOL) to establish apprenticeship programs to meet talent needs. As part of this role, Linton assists employers in creating curriculum related to their occupations, and helps students determine if apprenticeship is the right path for them.

Apprenticeships offer opportunities in a wide array of areas, covering almost every student interest. There are currently over 1,200 apprenticeable occupations through the DOL, with more added every year. Currently, Schoolcraft College is proud to have placed over 70 apprentices, representing 20-plus occupations, placed at over 25 area companies.

Logan Leinbach created this display case at the Manufacturing & Engineering Center.

The College has been at the forefront of collaborating to create new opportunities. One example is student Logan Leinbach, who is the first Woodwork Manufacturing Specialist apprentice and will recognized at the event.

Schoolcraft and Leinbach’s employer, Burke Architectural Millwork in Livonia, helped develop the apprenticeship for the Department of Labor over the course of two years, including working with The Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. Burke was able to move Leinbach from his CAD apprenticeship into the Woodwork program, which he recently completed.

For more information about apprenticeships, please contact Pamela Linton by email at [email protected] or by phone at 734-462-7372.

April 11, 2022 by mlemon

Be sure to attend one of the Grad Fairs this week

Learning, of course, is the goal of any college experience. Part of that education means familiarizing yourself with some unfamiliar terms. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

As part of an occasional series, we’ll explain phrases, lingo or topics to add to your college vocabulary. We call it “Say What?” If there’s a topic you’d like to see covered, please send suggestions to [email protected].

Today, we take a look at the difference between Graduation and Commencement.

What’s the difference?

It’s easy to think that graduation and commencement are the same thing, but they definitely are not. Graduation means fulfilling all the academic requirements for your credential – certificate, skills certificate associate degree or bachelor’s degree. Commencement is the ceremony that celebrates this achievement.

What do I need to do to graduate?

Now is a good time to check your progress toward your credential. To do that, log in to Ocelot Access, select Student Planning, and then My Progress to track your progress.

Next, choose Graduation Overview and click Apply in Ocelot Access to submit your graduation application. Schoolcraft College has only one Commencement a year, so the semester in which you will take your final courses is the semester for which you should apply for graduation.

Graduates in caps and gowns — This year’s Commencement is at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 7, in the St. Joe’s Mercy Elite Sports Center on the main campus.

Once final grades have posted for the semester, the Records Office will begin auditing graduation applications to verify that all requirements have been met.

The process is done manually, so your patience is greatly appreciated. You will receive an email when your credential has posted to your transcript.

The last day to submit a graduation application for the Winter 2022 semester is on Thursday, May 5. To ensure your name appears in the Commencement program, you need to submit a graduation application by Friday, April 15 for Winter, Spring and Summer 2022.

Learn more information about graduation.

When is Commencement?

This year’s Commencement is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 7, in the St. Joe’s Mercy Elite Sports Center on the main campus.

To help you get ready for Commencement, please plan on attending one of the Grad Fairs, which will be held on the following dates and times at the Bookstore on the main campus:

Wednesday, April 13, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 14, from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Be prepared to purchase and pick up your cap and gown for $30. You also will be given your four guest tickets at this time. Graduates must pick up their guest tickets in-person at the Bookstore.

Also available for purchase will be announcements, diploma frames, class rings, and a variety of alumni/graduate merchandise.

More information about Commencement, including a list of FAQs, is available on its web page.

April 4, 2022 by mlemon

Program Launched in 2021; Two Students Almost Finished

Because of many disruptions of consumer products – or the parts needed to produce goods – the term “supply chain” is more and more part of everyday conversation. Given the ongoing challenges, it’s apparent that skilled professionals are needed in a variety of industries to manage supply chain issues.

A dose of help is on the way, thanks to Schoolcraft College.

Schoolcraft College launched its Supply Chain Management (SCM) program in January 2021, and two students are about to be the first to complete the program. Another is making his mark in supply chain right now while still attending class.

The two students with the finish line in sight illustrate how Supply Chain Management can be a good fit no matter your level of expertise or familiarity with the subject.

One student, John Garcia, is on the front lines of Supply Chain Management – he’s a helicopter pilot who delivers materials both locally and nationally. He’s even delivered microchips to automotive plants.

Students in the Supply Chain Management program recently learned about challenges in the restaurant industry from Christopher C. Misiak, Program Coordinator for Culinary Arts.

“When I was exploring degree options last winter, I was made aware of the SCM program, which was beginning when I would start school, and was immediately sold,” Garcia said. “I felt this was a good choice because it aligned with my career and am very interested in the transportation industry and movement of goods.”

The other student, Zachary Miles, graduated from high school in 2020. He got his start at Schoolcraft in high school as a Dual Enrollment student, then became a full-time student in the Spring 2020 term.

“I started attending Schoolcraft College in January 2020 as a Dual Enrollment student,” Miles said. “I have mostly taken business and general education courses, but also Psychology, Political Science, and German.

“After discovering the Supply Chain Management program in Winter 2021, my main priority is to finish with a Skills Certificate and transfer to Eastern Michigan to get a bachelor’s degree and possibly an MBA.”

To help students achieve their goals, the Supply Chain Management credentials are “stackable.” That means the Skills Certificate flows to the Certificate, which flows to the Associate in Applied Science Degree. Courses also can transfer to a four-year school to pursue a bachelor’s degree. (See your Academic Advisor for details.)

“Both of these students have mentioned to me several times how proud they are to be the first students to complete this program,” said Steve Donovan, Instructor and Supply Chain Management Program Consultant. “It gives me great satisfaction to see how proud they are to complete a program we just launched a year ago.”

Miles appreciates the real-world perspective that Donovan, who began as a Consultant on the Supply Chain Management program in 2018 after a distinguished career in the automotive industry, brings to the classroom.

Supply Chain Management students (left to right) John Garcia, Zachary Miles and Shain Scherer.

“He has done an outstanding job of explaining the course material and connecting it to real life,” Miles said. “I felt like trying to take every opportunity and really trying to connect each thing I learn in real life is the best and most helpful way of mastering the course content, and he’s done that with simulations, guest speakers and field trips.”

Another student, Shain Scherer, was able to make a connection and is working in the industry. Now he’s “earning while he’s learning” as he pursues the Associate Degree.

“During the Spring 2021 term, I brought in a guest speaker from Expeditors, a third-party logistics company in Romulus,” Donovan said. “I connected Shain with a representative I had been working with. He got an interview and has been working for them since September.”

Scherer started in SCM in May of 2021 and had been serving tables and bartending before his new opportunity.

“I’ve been working as an Air Export agent,” he said. “I figured if I was going to be in school for this, it would be wise to get a jump start on my career as soon as possible.

“I learned about the program while looking through the course catalog at Schoolcraft. I have a few friends who work in the industry and they seem happy with their jobs. Also around that time with the pandemic still going, supply chain has become an everyday issue. The more I learned about it, the more interested I became.”

That interest has been stoked further in class.

“Themost helpful thing I’ve learned in my classes would be the current event examinations we’ve done in the Supply Chain classes,” he said. “I work in air exports so now things like supply chain disruption really affect my day to day. Whether it was an airport being shut down in Ukraine or weather issues, all of these things affect my current job, so it’s interesting to take a look at it.

“The Supply Chain Management program and its focus on actually applying the work to a job and getting a job have been incredibly helpful the last few months, and I’m excited to keep getting after it.”

Learn more about Schoolcraft College’s Supply Chain Management program.

Registration for Fall 2022 is now open.

April 4, 2022 by mlemon

Learn the differences as you plan your educational journey

Learning, of course, is the goal of any college experience. Part of that education means familiarizing yourself with some unfamiliar terms. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Through our monthly “Say What?” series, we’ll explain phrases, lingo or topics to add to your college vocabulary. If there’s something you’d like to see covered, please send suggestions to [email protected].

Today, we take a look at the difference between two items that are part of overall college expenses: tuition and fees.

What is tuition?

Tuition is, simply, the cost of instruction. At its most basic, tuition covers the cost of the professor or instructor teaching the course and the cost of offering the class in the first place. At Schoolcraft College, tuition rates are based on residency, which is whether you live in the College’s district or out of the district.

Schoolcraft College’s district includes cities and townships within the following public school districts: Clarenceville, Garden City, Livonia, Northville and Plymouth-Canton. The district also includes a small sliver of Novi. Residents in these districts pay a millage, or tax, to help maintain Schoolcraft College. Because they’ve already paid into the College, they receive a lower tuition rate.

calculator, piggy bank wearing a graduation cap — Tuition is the cost of instruction. Fees are generally used to cover the cost of buildings, facilities and services.

The tuition rates for 2022-23 are as follows:

Resident: $131 per credit hour
Non-resident: $188 per credit hour
Out of state: $265 per credit hour
International: $265 per credit hour

What are fees?

Fees are separate from tuition. They are used to pay some of the other expenses related to higher education, including buildings and facilities. Here is the fee schedule:

Application fee: $0
Transcript fee: Varies according to delivery method
Parking fee: $0
Registration fee: $43 per semester
Instructional equipment fee: $10 per credit hour
Service fee: $8 per credit hour
Infrastructure fee: $8 per credit hour
Learning management fee: $12 per class
Lab fee: Varies according to individual class
Excess contact hour fee: Varies according to individual class

Explanation of fees

Registration Fee

This fee is a refundable fee charged one time per semester regardless of how many credit hours a student registers for during the semester. This fee is $43 per semester.

Instructional Equipment Fee

This fee is used to defray the increasing cost of maintaining, upgrading, and replacing the wide variety of electronic equipment and personal computers used in our classrooms. Software purchases, maintenance agreements, and upgrades are also covered by this fee. Every student is charged $10 per credit hour for this fee.

Service Fee

This fee defrays the cost of several free services that Schoolcraft provides to students, such as career services, student activities, graduation, parking and admittance to the SC Fitness Center each semester the student is registered. This fee is $8 per credit.

Infrastructure Fee

This fee is used to defray the increasing costs associated with maintaining and enhancing the College’s buildings, facilities, and campus grounds. Deferred maintenance and depreciation of campus infrastructure is also covered by this fee. Every student is charged $8 per credit hour for this fee.

Lab Fees/Learning Management Fees

This fee is used to cover the cost of special materials, equipment, student assistants, specialized support and other services. Our learning management system fee (currently Blackboard) is $12 per class, with an additional fee of $10 for classes held in computer labs, allowing the use of additional technology that is otherwise not available in a standard classroom.

Excess Contact Hours Fees

The College charges $131 per excess contact hour per class with a maximum of 4 excess contact hours per class.

An excess contact hour occurs when the weekly class meeting hours exceed the class credit hours. For example, if Biology meets 4 hours per week, but Biology is a 3 credit hour class, the student is charged a $131 excess contact hour fee. If a Nursing class meets 10 hours per week, but the Nursing class is a 4 credit hour class, the student will be charged a $524 excess contact hour fee.

Paying for higher education can be a challenge. Fortunately, Schoolcraft College offers a variety of scholarships. Learn more here.