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Home / My Story, My Voice: Kevin Edmonds, Schoolcraft College Police Officer

My Story, My Voice: Kevin Edmonds, Schoolcraft College Police Officer

February 11, 2022 by Schoolcraft College

Kevin Edmonds, Schoolcraft College Police Officer

Kevin Edmonds joined the Schoolcraft College Police Department in November of 2014. He previously served with the Detroit Police Department and the city of Oak Park’s Public Safety Department.

To help celebrate Black History Month, we’re pleased to share “My Story, My Voice,” a series of essays written by Schoolcraft College students, faculty, staff and alumni. Please go to schoolcraft.edu/BHM to read the complete collection.

Kevin Edmonds

By Kevin Edmonds, Schoolcraft College Police Officer

I grew up on the west side of Detroit in the shadow of famed Kronk Gym. I grew up in a neighborhood where neighbors knew you by name, and everyone looked out for each other. One of the values that was instilled in me as a child by my mom was the “Golden Rule”: Treat everybody the way you want to be treated. I have lived by that mantra in both my personal and professional life.

After graduating from Henry Ford High School, I began working for Ford Motor Company before starting my career in public service with the Detroit Police Department (DPD) in 1989. I worked for DPD for two years and was laid-off. Unemployment was short-lived, as just weeks after being laid-off, I was hired by the City of Oak Park’s Public Safety Department (OPDPS). I served the Oak Park DPS for 23 years, retiring in October of 2014.

As with my time being laid-off, my retirement was also short-lived. Within weeks after I retired, I was hired by the Schoolcraft College Police Department (SCPD) in November of 2014. Not a bad retirement gig at all!

Entering into my eighth year at SCPD, I have enjoyed my job here at Schoolcraft College thus far. I enjoy coming to work, my co-workers at SCPD, the staff and faculty at the college. I enjoy what I do on a daily basis here at Schoolcraft College assisting students, staff, and guest of Schoolcraft College.

In conclusion, working at SCPD has inspired me to return to college to complete the last 10 credits of my bachelor’s degree program. My goal is to complete my degree work to walk across the stage this December. Wish me luck!

Filed Under: Community, News Tagged With: Black History Month

February 10, 2022 by Schoolcraft College

Yolanda Brown-Spidell, Sociology Professor

Yolanda Brown-Spidell is a recent hire at Schoolcraft College in the department of sociology (2021). She is an educator with over 20 years of teaching and educational leadership in both Detroit and metro Detroit.

To help celebrate Black History Month, we’re pleased to share “My Story, My Voice,” a series of essays written by Schoolcraft College students, faculty, staff and alumni. Please go to schoolcraft.edu/BHM to read the complete collection.

Yolanda Brown-Spidell

By Yolanda Brown-Spidell, Sociology Professor

How does a little Black girl who grew up in Detroit and did not get serious about school until she was a 29-year-old unhappily married mother of two who returned to school at a community college in San Diego end up teaching sociology in Livonia, which is historically known as a sundown town? Only in America.

How does a divorced mother of five find herself as caregiver to both her mother and her father until they died and she had the honor of eulogizing them both? Only by the grace of God.

How does a girl who was raised by two Black parents that graduated from a “colored” high school in Mobile, Alabama, be the mother of a daughter who is on the cusp of graduating from Harvard? Only in America and by the grace of God.

I am my ancestors’ dream, but there are days when the dream can feel like a nightmare. As a sociologist, I have the language and the cultural awareness to acknowledge, understand and interpret what it means to be “Black in America.” I am acutely aware of my minority status in a majority reality. I wear my badge of “Professor Yolanda” with an interesting mixture of pride, humility, and fear. Pride, because this is a personal life goal that has been achieved. Humble, because I recognize that I don’t stand in this space on my own. I stand here because of the blood, tears and lives that were given for me to have the right to acquire the education that gave me the key to unlock this door. Fearful, because the message I teach will be as vinegar to the soul of some and honey to the soul of others.

So I stand as professor, but the little Black girl from Detroit is always present with me.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Black History Month

February 9, 2022 by Schoolcraft College

Keith Dawkins, Design Release Engineer and Alumni

Keith Dawkins is a Design Release Engineer for General Motors. He has experience in embedded controls, calibration, and managing programs from design to launch. His hobbies include golf, traveling and exercise. He hopes one day to complete a half-marathon.

To help celebrate Black History Month, we’re pleased to share “My Story, My Voice,” a series of essays written by Schoolcraft College students, faculty, staff and alumni. Please go to schoolcraft.edu/BHM to read the complete collection.

Keith Dawkins

By Keith Dawkins, Design Release Engineer and Alumni

My time at Schoolcraft College ended on a high note. I graduated with a great GPA, won several awards and recognitions, was the Graduation Marshall for my class, and was accepted to U of M’s Electrical Engineering program. My family was proud of me. This was the second chapter of my life after a long battle with cancer, and things were looking up. Graduating from community college was a rare time in my life that I had finished something I had started. It felt good. I was looking optimistically at the future.

My first semester at U of M was challenging. I was enrolled in two of the program’s “weed out” classes: EECS 280 (C++) and EECS 215 (circuits). It was a challenge learning to study differently, not to mention the volume of work, but my classmates and I pushed through. I think we all experienced a paradigm shift in this manner. I began to feel optimistic about the semester when a remnant from the past crept up. I was admitted to the hospital with complications from my previous cancer battle. I was only gone a week, but that’s a lifetime in college studies. I struggled to catch up with my classes and was successful in all but one – EECS 280. I never could regain my footing and subsequently failed the class.

The rest of my time at U of M was met with successes. I earned excellent grades in my classes – even when I retook EECS 280. I was on a roll. Then one day I received the call that we all dread. My mother had passed. The grief was enormous, and I left school to be with my family. After the initial shock of grief, I was comforted by the fact that my mom was so proud to see me finally excelling in life. I was determined to push through and graduate in her honor – which I did in 2015 at the young age of 45.

These days I use what I learned in my schoolwork to develop technologies for electric vehicles. I have had several engineering jobs at General Motors since I graduated, and now I design and launch computer modules for EV SUVs. I am married with three children, and I reside in Farmington Hills. The second chance at life has been both challenging and fulfilling. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Filed Under: Community, News Tagged With: Black History Month

February 8, 2022 by Schoolcraft College

Dr. Carmen Wilson, Academic Success Coach

Dr. Carmen Wilson joined Schoolcraft College in 2016, specializing in the disciplines of reading, study skills, and developmental education. She provides individual coaching for students and facilitates group sessions for class visits, TEAS Test Prep, and the Detroit Promise Cohort. Dr. Wilson is the Coordinator for the STARS DEI Leadership Program. Her mantra is, “I am your champion, cheerleader, and accountability partner, helping students soar academically.”

To help celebrate Black History Month, we’re pleased to share “My Story, My Voice,” a series of essays written by Schoolcraft College students, faculty, staff and alumni. Please go to schoolcraft.edu/BHM to read the complete collection.

Dr. Carmen Wilson

By Dr. Carmen Wilson, Academic Success Coach

My passion for teaching began at age 6, when, after returning from a day at school I would retreat to my bedroom and line up my dolls across the bed to play teacher, mimicking the instructional style seen earlier in the day. This anecdote, constantly told by my mother, who delighted in relating these events, was her way of showing the pride she felt in my academic accomplishments.

I was raised in a strong, faith-based, Christian family. Our family’s weekly attendance at the Historic Second Baptist Church of Detroit was not negotiable! My father worked two jobs, and my mother stayed at home with my younger brother and I. Their combined support was there for all activities and classes in which we were involved. Fostering my love for reading was done by a weekly walk to the Detroit Public Library Mobile Unit.

A graduate of Michigan State University, my first job was as a Social Studies teacher. I have subsequently filled the professional roles in K12 including teacher, coordinator, academic dean, assistant principal, and principal. My Doctorate in Leadership and Policy Studies provided the segue into higher education. First in my family to attend college, I was blessed to have my parents, son, and closest friends witness me cross the stage at Wayne State University.

My passion has always been to help students achieve academic excellence. My path led me to the field of developmental reading, writing, composition, and academic support. On February 22, 2016, I became a Faculty Facilitator (now Academic Success Coach) at Schoolcraft College. Initially the only African-American female in the Learning Support Services department, I readily identified with the obstacles that beset underrepresented, first-generation populations and worked to create a mentorship program, specifically aimed at helping first-year college students. With the support of Associate Dean Melissa Schultz, the Scholars Taking Off & Rising To Success (STARS) Program was launched during the fall of 2019.

The success of the pilot STARS Program is shown by the anonymous donor, renewing it for the 2021-2022 academic school year. The STARS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Leadership Program is based on four pillars: Academic, Leadership, Service-Learning, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice. This initiative is designed to provide a wealth of knowledge, a plethora of diverse experiences, promote a catalyst for change at Schoolcraft and the community at-large for two scholars, two mentors, and ten mentees. Indeed, it has been my pleasure and honor to serve as the Coordinator of STARS DEI Leadership Program, a very viable value-added entity at Schoolcraft College. I am excited by the prospect of expanding the program as well as seeing the creative and innovative campus-wide events our STARS scholars will implement.

Filed Under: Community, News Tagged With: Black History Month

February 7, 2022 by Schoolcraft College

Thomas “Tommy” DeJesus (Anderson), alumni

Thomas “Tommy” DeJesus (Anderson) has been a community organizer for seven years. A graduate of the University of North Texas in Integrative Studies, he’s currently writing his memoir, which will be released this year.

To help celebrate Black History Month, we’re pleased to share “My Story, My Voice,” a series of essays written by Schoolcraft College students, faculty, staff and alumni. Please go to schoolcraft.edu/BHM to read the complete collection.

Thomas DeJesus

By Thomas “Tommy” DeJesus (Anderson), alumni

 “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair” – Mother to Son by Langston Hughes. Truer words have never been spoken. Though I smile outside, my inner thoughts contain memories of a childhood marred by violence and death with a mix of nostalgia.

My parents’ wishes came true as I was born at 11:11 p.m. My mother had already suffered a miscarriage a few years earlier. She was told that the chances of her giving birth were slim. I was born with Meconium Aspiration Syndrome, one of the leading causes of infant mortality. In Detroit – where I was born – the infant mortality rate is so high it rivals the war-torn country of Libya. As an occupational therapist, she was well aware of the odds that Black mothers often faced in dealing with hospitals. Nevertheless, she still persevered, and I was able to pull through without any issues.

I grew up in Farmington Hills. Like Livonia, Farmington Hills represented one of several white flight towns in Metro Detroit during the mid-20th century. I grew up in a majority Black and Asian neighborhood created through exclusionary zoning in the 1990s. My parents were deep believers of the Christian faith and decided to send me to a Christian school, hoping I’d receive a better education there than a public school. Big mistake.  

Racial epithets and insensitivity flew from the mouths of my “Christian” teachers, classmates, and their parents with impunity. I assumed the treatment I received was normal, so I never complained to my parents. However, my mother saw it and did everything she could to fight it. With her help, the school instituted their first ever Black History Month program my 1st grade year.

In my 3rd grade year, she began her own fight with pulmonary hypertension, which ultimately took her life on November 12, 2008. As a result, my father became a single father and the racial torment worsened as we entered the Obama era. Nonetheless, like her during my birth, I persevered.

Over 10 years later, her legacy lives on through me. Today, I continue to serve humanity by promoting Black unity and self-love. “There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson…” – Malcolm X.

Filed Under: Community, News Tagged With: Black History Month

February 7, 2022 by

A total of 23 Ocelots from 6 sports will be recognized

Schoolcraft College’s inaugural class to be inducted to the Michigan Alpha Chapter of Theta Chi Alpha, the National College Athlete Honor Society, includes 23 student-athletes representing all 6 sports the Ocelots currently compete in.

To qualify, student-athletes must have completed three full-time semesters with a cumulative grade point average of 3.40 or above.  The Athletic Department will hold an induction ceremony later this semester.  

Computers against a wall next to a trophy case
Dedicated space in the Physical Education building is available to help student-athletes with their studies.

“We’re pleased to recognize the excellent work our student-athletes are doing in the classroom and welcome our inaugural class of 23 Theta Chi Alpha inductees,” said Cali Crawford, Director of Athletics. “It’s a testament to the dedication of our student-athletes and our coaches to ensure that academics always comes first.”

The National College Athlete Honor Society, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was founded in 1996 by then DePauw University head football coach Nick Mourouzis. His goal was to provide outstanding student-athletes with an opportunity to become connected within a fraternal association that aligns their educational and athletic successes for a lifetime.

Amy Proctor, Student Athlete Support System (SASS) Coordinator, serves as advisor for Schoolcraft College’s chapter of Theta Chi Alpha. 

Members of Schoolcraft College’s inaugural Theta Chi Alpha class are:

Student-athleteSport
Natasha Carter
Jack Cronyn
John Evangelista
Mohamed Hammoud
Emma Hughes
Allison Little
Miranda McIntosh
Kiersten Metz
James (Alex) Neville
Erin O’Neil
Autumn Reed
Jon Sabuda
Jacob Saez
Adriana Sapia
Brandon Strickland
Justina Szalkowski
Drew Tappen
Andrew Weiss
Women’s Basketball
Baseball
Men’s Soccer
Men’s Soccer
Women’s Soccer
Women’s Bowling
Women’s Soccer
Softball
Men’s Soccer
Women’s Soccer
Softball
Baseball
Men’s Bowling
Women’s Soccer
Baseball
Women’s Basketball
Men’s Soccer
Baseball

Filed Under: News, Schoolcraft Spotlight Tagged With: Cali Crawford, Schoolcraft College, Student Athlete Support System, student-athlete, Thete Chi Alpha

February 7, 2022 by

Contributions of Asian Indian community spotlighted

A documentary film that spotlights Asian Indians, an important and growing immigrant population, will be the focus of Schoolcraft College’s next GlobalEYEzers program. Created by Dr. Arifa Javed, a sociologist and professor at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, Essential Arrival: Michigan’s Indian Immigrants in the 21st Century, shows the contributions the Indian community has made to American society.

Dr. Arifa Javed with a map of the globe in the background
Dr. Arifa Javed, a sociologist and professor at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, created Essential Arrival: Michigan’s Indian Immigrants in the 21st Century

This Michigan-based production showcases the professional, social and cultural life of Indian immigrants in America, highlighting their assimilation in the mainstream while they retain some of their cultural capital. According to the American Immigration Council, India (11%) trails only Mexico (13%) as the top country of origin for immigrants in Michigan.

Essential Arrival: Michigan’s Indian Immigrants in the 21st Century will be screened on Zoom from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Friday, February 11. Join the screening with the following credentials:

Join the Zoom Meeting

  • Meeting ID: 838 2039 2692
  • Passcode: 422227

Watch the Trailer

This event is sponsored by the SCII Focus Series, the Student Activities Office and the Asian Students Association. Learn more about Schoolcraft College’s International Institute (SCII) on their website at schoolcraft.edu/scii. 

Filed Under: News, Schoolcraft Spotlight Tagged With: documentary, Dr. Arifa Javed, Essential Arrival, GlobalEYEzers

February 4, 2022 by Schoolcraft College

Katelynn Haygood, Alumni

Katelynn Haygood earned her Associate in Science Degree and now is majoring in Environmental Studies and minoring in English at Wayne State University. She works in the Geology Department at Wayne State and as a Pharmacy Technician. She hopes to one day bio-engineer plants to improve overall air quality.

To help celebrate Black History Month, we’re pleased to share “My Story, My Voice,” a series of essays written by Schoolcraft College students, faculty, staff and alumni. Please go to schoolcraft.edu/BHM to read the complete collection.

Katelynn Haygood

By Katelynn Haygood, Alumni

Juan Haygood
Katelynn Haygood’s grandfather, Juan Haygood.

Black History Month is a time to remember those who have come before us and what lesson they can teach us in the present. I was lucky to have my grandfather, Juan Haygood, who made a huge impact on my life before he passed. When I was a young girl, he would take me fishing, hiking, and boating with him. My grandfather hated being outdoors and was the kind of man who always wore slacks and dress shoes. However, he knew I loved doing those things and always made time for us to be together. It was those moments of having positive encouragement that helped develop me into the adult I am today.

After he passed away, my dad told me more about his life and the things he accomplished. He was highly educated, a businessman, owned many properties, traveled the world, and lived a very full life. I hope to follow in his footsteps and live my life to the fullest. And also to graduate from the same college he attended, which was Wayne State University. 

Filed Under: Community, News

February 3, 2022 by Schoolcraft College

Cedric Howie, Professor of Economics

Professor Cedric Howie has been a full-time member of the faculty in Economics at Schoolcraft College for 31 years. Prior to coming to Schoolcraft, Professor Howie taught at colleges and universities in South Carolina, Massachusetts, Nebraska and Japan. His area of concentration is in microeconomics.

To help celebrate Black History Month, we’re pleased to share “My Story, My Voice,” a series of essays written by Schoolcraft College students, faculty, staff and alumni. Please go to schoolcraft.edu/BHM to read the complete collection.

Cedric Howie

By Cedric Howie, Professor of Economics

During February our country observes Black History Month. This is a time to learn about key figures, concepts, and texts representing African American history. Writing reflectively can develop one’s opinion on a topic. This year, I’m reflecting on Black History Education.  

The desire to write about and learn Black History is not a new priority in Black communities. Black educators, including W. E. B. Du Bois, Booker T. Washington, and Carter G. Woodson, historically wrote Black literary resources to correct white writers’ omissions and misrepresentations.

Black History Education became more mainstream during the Black Power Movement. The Movement prompted some states to create legislation mandating Black History Education in public schools.  Subsequently, Black History Education has experienced growing pains as it is conceived, perceived, and taught.  A prominent educator, Gloria Ladson-Billings, wrote in her 2003 Critical Race Theory: Perspectives on the Social Studies, “when schoolchildren learn ‘Black history,’ they learn that Black people are relatively insignificant to the growth and development of our democracy and our nation, and they represent a drain on the resources and values.”

We dishonor Black History Education when we teach about Black history instead of through Black history. The study of Black history should nurture the understanding of the importance of Blacks in America. Teaching through Black history means teaching from the actual historical experiences and voices of Black Americans.

Black History Month is an opportunity to reinvent Black History Education. When Black History Month was originated, Black History Education was little talked about or written about, leaving the impression that Black Americans had a minimal contributing presence in our country’s history.  Ideally, there would be no specific month for Black History or Black History Education; it would be an integral part of the American story continuously.

Filed Under: Community, News

February 2, 2022 by Schoolcraft College

Catreese Qualls, Student

Catreese Qualls is a non-traditional student and mother who serves as the Division III International Vice President of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She is a businesswoman; diversity, equity and inclusion mentor; and a Schoolcraft Scholar studying social work with an emphasis on urban studies. Catreese is a community advocate dedicated to empowering unrepresented and at-risk populations.

To help celebrate Black History Month, we’re pleased to share “My Story, My Voice,” a series of essays written by Schoolcraft College students, faculty, staff and alumni. Please go to schoolcraft.edu/BHM to read the complete collection. 

Catreese Qualls

By Catreese Qualls, Student

Closed doors, redirected pathways, carrying the burden while others reaped the harvest is the truth that’s helped to shape My Story! I’ve walked boldly in the face of adversity with bronzed feet, weathered cheeks, tear-filled eyes and a can-do spirit that will not be broken. Today I stand mighty, compelled by the blood, sweat, tears and rich history of those who laid the foundation beneath me. I’ve witnessed a perpetual war waged against children that looked like me; unequal education, housing inequities, food and financial insecurities and socioeconomic status all stamped denied. I’ve survived this ill contempt, elevating above these injustices to keep the torch aflame for those who shined it before me. 

I lay myself out as a blueprint for others to follow. African Americans can no longer afford to merely exist in mediocracy, nor afford to walk in the unbridled ignorance of those who seek to perpetuate centuries old oppressive behaviors. No! It has been declared that we should transition into a life filled with equity, promise and a hope of a better tomorrow. As a minority, a mother, and non-traditional student leader, I speak on behalf of those oppressed, underrepresented, stigmatized, stereotyped and otherwise rejected.

I use the legacy and fullness of the awakened warriors to run forward, speak the truth, denounce ignorance and dissolve hatred. Daily I overcome obstacles and breakdown barriers to challenge the status quo. I am a reflection of Sojourner Truth, forged in the unbreakable, unshakable and unmatched grit of my heroes of today: Venus & Serena, women embalmed by circumstance. Because of them and every other little girl and boy who would otherwise be silenced, I lift my voice to celebrate who I am. 

Filed Under: Community, News

January 31, 2022 by

Parents and children can meet instructors, ask questions

An open house for Kids on Campus (KOC), the popular summer enrichment program for children pre-school age through grade 12, will be held from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 8. Please come to the DiPonio Room of the VisTaTech Center on the campus of Schoolcraft College, 18600 Haggerty Road, Livonia, 48152.

Parents and children will have the opportunity to meet select class instructors and participate in hands-on activities. Staff will be available to answer questions about registration, which opens at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 10.

Kids on Campus Catalog cover
Registration for Kids on Campus begins Thursday, February 10

KOC’s summer day camps are led by skilled professionals in a diverse and dynamic social environment. The summer programs generally run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. or 9:00 a.m. to noon with limited before and after care available for a small fee. 

Hands-on learning experiences, which bring out the inquisitive side of even the most hesitant of participants, are emphasized. Children ready to engage in a whole new experience can enjoy access to computers, math, cultural immersion, acting, the arts, science, writing and career-oriented learning opportunities. For those who want to expand academically, skills workshops are also offered. 

Highlighting this summer’s new offerings are three new classes for middle school and high school students at our state-of-the-art Manufacturing & Engineering Center (MEC):

3D Printing and Design
Grades 7-9

Students will follow the same process as an industrial designer – read blueprints, draw and sketch an image, add dimensions and turn an idea into a 3D model using Tinkercad. They’ll then bring the idea to life with a 3D printer, creating an actual prototype.

Machine Manufacturing, Leading Edge Technology
Grades 10-12

Students will use Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software and real Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines to create, design, build and finish products.

Explore Manufacturing and Engineering Design, Build and Test
Grades 10-12

Students will learn Computer Aided Design (CAD), Manufacturing, Welding, Metallurgy and Robotics in this camp. They start by designing a product, then bring it to life in the Manufacturing and Welding labs. In the Metallurgy module, students will learn about metals and other materials to support product design and manufacturing. They then finish the week learning about Robotics and testing out their new product.

The classes at MEC run from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., allowing parents the opportunity to drop off children both there and at the main campus. The MEC is at 13001 Merriman Road in Livonia.

Learn more about Kids on Campus

Filed Under: News, Program Spotlight Tagged With: Kids on Campus, Manufacturing & Engineering Center, open house

January 24, 2022 by

Knowing the difference can help you decide what path to pursue

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’ll learn about some of the differences between the certificates and degrees that Schoolcraft College offers. The College has over 130 different programs leading to either a skills certificate, certificate, associate degree, or post-associate certificate. We also offer a Bachelor of Science degree in Culinary and Dietary Operations Management.

Skills Certificates and Certificates

Skills Certificates and Certificates are viable credentials for improving your salary and career outlook. They are approved by the Schoolcraft College accrediting organization, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and by the Department of Education/Federal Financial Aid. The Skills Certificates and Certificates are earned by many students and can help you gain a job in your chosen field or can help advance your career in an industry. They do not require as much time, or as many classes, and so are an economical way to begin and achieve.

Students in regalia holding up degrees
Schoolcraft College offers a variety of credentials – Certificates, Skills Certificates, Associate Degrees and a Bachelor of Science degree – to help students attain their goals.

The Skills Certificate will help provide you with an introductory view of the field and may help you to obtain an entry-level position in a variety of roles. The Certificate can assist with entry-level positions as well as enter more concentrated career paths.

The credits earned are also stackable so that you can go on from earning the Skills Certificate (most are about 16 credits), to then earning the Certificate (about 16 additional credits). 

By achieving these certificate milestones, you will have access to potential entry-level positions, advancement in current positions, and advancement toward further degrees and professional certificates. It also will allow for new career paths for workers of any industry that have been displaced and are seeking a career change with a positive growth potential.

With success comes more confidence and the boost in confidence, career and earnings make these credentials very attractive.

Degrees

The majority of students at Schoolcraft College are working toward graduating with one of these four associate degrees:

  • Associate in Arts (AA)
  • Associate in Science (AS)
  • Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
  • Associate in Business Administration (ABA)

What are the differences?

Both the Associate in Arts (AA) and Associate in Science (AS) degrees are designed for students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in a particular discipline. Many, if not all, credits can be transferred to four-year institutions. Check with your Academic Advisor, but in some cases it’s possible to enter a four-year school as a junior with all general education courses already completed. Earning an AS or AA at Schoolcraft College first can result in tremendous cost savings compared with attending a college or university for all four years to complete a bachelor’s degree.

An earlier Say What? explains these transfer possibilities in further detail.

An Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree is designed for those interested in entering the workforce right away and establishing a career in health care, business, manufacturing and more. Professionals already working in these fields find that completing an associate degree can lead to career advancement. In some cases, apprenticeships are available and employers may pay for classes.

An AAS is considered a “terminal degree” – that is, the courses are designed to get students the education they need to succeed in the workforce right way rather than serving as a foundation or stepping stone to a bachelor’s degree. While it’s possible to transfer AAS courses to a four-year institution, it’s not the usual path.

The Associate in Business Administration (ABA) is the best of both worlds, providing a foundation to both a bachelor’s degree and the knowledge to enter the workforce in a variety of business-related fields, including:

  • Accounting
  • Business Administration
  • Computer Information Systems
  • Finance
  • Human Resources Management
  • International Business
  • Management
  • Marketing

In addition, Schoolcraft College also confers the following degrees:

  • Associate in Engineering (AE)
  • Associate in Fine Arts (AFA)
  • Associate in General Studies (AGS)
  • Bachelor of Science (BS)

Like the AA and AS degrees, the Associate in Engineering (AE), Associate in Fine Arts (AFA), and Associate in General Studies (AGS) degrees are designed for students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree at a four-year institution.

Schoolcraft College’s Bachelor of Science degree program, usually completed in four years, is in Culinary Arts. Students on this track earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Culinary and Dietary Operations Management. As the name suggests, it prepares graduates for management positions in the food and nutrition industries. This program also combines business and science courses to broaden the knowledge base beyond culinary and improve the student’s career opportunities. 

There are many programs at Schoolcraft College offering certificates and degrees that will make a positive difference in your career opportunities and earnings. Continue to meet with your Academic Advisor to ensure you’re on the right path for all that you want to achieve with your education at Schoolcraft College. 

Filed Under: News, Schoolcraft Spotlight Tagged With: Associate Degree, Bachelor of Science, Certificate, Schoolcraft College, Skills Certificate

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