VistaTech Center

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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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Schoolcraft College’s Asian Students Association will present Navratri Garba on Saturday, October 8, from 7 p.m. to midnight in the Vistatech Center. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Children 5 and younger are free.

Navratri is a Hindu festival that takes place over nine nights. The word “Navratri” is a conjunction of the two words “nava” (meaning “nine”) and “ratri” (meaning “night”). This festival is devoted to the Mother Goddess known variously as Durga, Kali, Bhavani, Amba and Chandika.

Garba is one of the dance forms. Dandiya Raas, from the state of Gujarat, is a popular dance form as well.

Navratri customs include:

  • During the nine days of Navratri, feasting and fasting take precedence over all normal daily activities among Hindu people.
  • Evenings give rise to the religious dances in order to worship Goddess Durga Maa.
  • Mother Goddess is seen as personification of strength, courage, knowledge, wealth, art, fertility and love.
  • Water, mango leaves, rice, coconut, betel leaves, haldi, kumkum and ritual fire (aarti) all help celebrate the supreme mother and her divinity.
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Photo 1: Navratri Garba is a family-friendly event.
Photo 2: Dance is part of the celebration of Navratri Garba.

You can purchase advance tickets for Navratri Garba from:

  • Schoolcraft College Student Activities Office (lower level of Vistatech Center)
  • Call 734-462-4422

OR

  • Taj Cottage
  • 8429 Grand River Avenue, Farmington Hills, 48335
  • Call Rachna Chandra, 734-620-4933

The ticket includes an Indian dinner catered by Suvai and live music by Kuldip Bhatt. Indian clothes and jewelry will be available for purchase as well.

All proceeds will go toward the Schoolcraft Student Food Pantry, a program that is dedicated to providing non-perishable food items to students and their families who are impacted by financial hardship.

Our thanks to Dr. Anna Maheshwari, Chair of the English Department, for her assistance with this story.

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Join us Sunday for live performances beginning at noon

For the first time in three years, Schoolcraft College once again will be the site of some of the best jazz musicians in the country, especially from Detroit and throughout Michigan, performing live at the Michigan Jazz Festival on Sunday, July 17. The free event starts at noon and features more than 40 bands performing in venues across campus, mainly in the VisTaTech Center. 

"27th annual Michigan Jazz festival" written under an illustration of a jazz band performing
This graphic for the Michigan Jazz Festival was designed by Weston Parker, a Computer Graphics Technology student at Schoolcraft College.

The last live performance was in 2019; the 2021 program was presented online. 

Dr. Barton Polot, who served the Music Department at Schoolcraft College for nearly 20 years, including as Department Chair, encourages everyone to attend.

“You know, there are roughly a dozen jazz and blues festivals all over the state each summer,” he said. “The Michigan Jazz Festival stands out, however, with seven simultaneous stages. Nothing else compares.  

“All day long, at any given time, jazz lovers can choose from a variety of musical styles and talents, familiar names as well as first-timers, the best jazz musicians in the state, all within a few steps. Add to that convenient free parking, air-conditioned comfort, great food and Schoolcraft College’s award-winning craft beer. Did I mention that attendance is free?”

A jazz band performing on stage
The VisTaTech Center will be the site of the Michigan Jazz Festival on Sunday, July 17.

New to the Festival this year is the Michigan Jazz Festival All-Star High School Band under the direction of Vincent Chandler. The group will perform at 2 p.m. Also new are two in-person jazz education clinics, the first of which starts at 9:00 a.m.

Weston Parker, a Computer Graphics Technology student at Schoolcraft College, designed the graphic for this year’s Michigan Jazz Festival.

Here is the schedule of the performances and venues:

Leven Open Air Stage – The Big Tent

  • Noon – Phil Ogilvie’s Rhythm Kings (PORK)
  • 1:30 p.m. – Oopapada
  • 3:00 p.m. – Terry Lower Trio & vocalist Edye Evans Hyde
  • 4:30 p.m. – Dave McMurray
  • 6:00 p.m. – Dave Bennett Quartet
  • 7:30 p.m. – Diego Rivera Quintet

Bill Bolle Presentation Stage – Kehrl Auditorium

  • 12:30 p.m. – Allen Dennard Quintet
  • 2:00 p.m. – Jon-Erik Kellso and friends
  • 3:30 p.m. – Louis Jones Quartet
  • 5:00 p.m. – Anthony Stanco Quintet
  • 6:30 p.m. – Jonathon Muir-Cotton and Expressions
  • 8:00 p.m. – Sean Dobbins Trio

Jerry McKenzie Rathskeller Stage – Lower Waterman

  • 12:15 p.m. – Russ Macklem Quintet
  • 1:45 p.m. – Cary Kocher and Sarah D’Angelo
  • 3:15 p.m. –  Doc’s Holiday Tribute Band
  • 4:45 p.m. – Vincent Chandler Experience
  • 6:15 p.m. – Ron Kischuk: Masters of Music Tbones
  • 7:45 p.m. – Lunar Octet

Vosgerchian Solo Piano & More – Reynolds Room

  • 12:30 p.m. – Michael Malis
  • 1:45 p.m. – Bill Meyer
  • 3:15 p.m. – Jordan Young Organ Trio
  • 4:45 p.m. – Ryan Bills / Trevor Lamb Sextet
  • 6:15 p.m. – Matthew LoRusso Quintet
  • 7:45 p.m. – Brandon Williams

Salden Big Band Stage – DiPonio Room

  • 12:15 p.m. – Planet D Nonet
  • 2:00 p.m. – MJF All-Star High School Jazz Band
  • 3:45 p.m. – Russ Miller and the Jazz Orchestra
  • 5:30 p.m. – CSO
  • 7:15 p.m. – Jeff Trudell Big Band

Music Hall Future of Jazz Stage – Henry’s Café 

  • 12:00 p.m. – Millennium Trio
  • 1:30 p.m. – Ellen Wallenfang Quintet
  • 3:00 p.m. – Playing with the Pros
  • 4:30 p.m. – Notre Dame Prep Jazz Combo
  • 6:00 p.m. – Nate Topolewski Quartet

Livonia Community Foundation Cabaret Stage – American Harvest

  • 12:15 p.m. – Olivia Van Goor and William Bennett
  • 1:30 p.m. – Lori Lefèvre and Chris Buzzelli
  • 2:45 p.m. – Barbara Ware and Cliff Monear
  • 4:00 p.m. – Kate Patterson and Chuck Shermetaro
  • 5:15 p.m. – Naima Shamborguer and Sven Anderson
  • 6:30 p.m. – Jiana Hunter and Scott Gwinnell

Michigan Council For the Arts Clinic Stage – Forum Auditorium

  • 9:00 a.m. – Dwight Adams — Jazz Improvisation clinic
  • 11:00 a.m. – Ellie Martin — Jazz Vocal Improvisation clinic

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Michigan community colleges will focus on students, workforce development

Although commencement ceremonies have concluded and Michigan community colleges, including Schoolcraft College, have sent another group of well-educated and well-trained graduates on their way to pursuing their dreams, the job of developing a strong workforce never stops.

Schoolcraft College, with a rich history of strong academic programs and business partnerships, has long been a leader in educating and training students for key roles in a variety of fields, including manufacturing, engineering and technology, health care, culinary arts, police and fire and many more vital occupations.

With all Michigan community colleges facing a number of challenges, including ones related to enrollment and funding, members of the Michigan Community College Association (MCCA) will be meeting at Schoolcraft College this week, Thursday May 19, and Friday, May 20, to find creative ways to address those challenges with meaningful actions.

VisTaTech Center building
The VisTaTech Center will be the site of this week’s Michigan Community College Association meeting.

“We look forward to providing our great facilities at the VisTaTech Center to be an incubator of great ideas and solutions to the challenges community colleges face,” said Dr. Glenn Cerny, President of Schoolcraft College. “I look forward to the open dialogue and wide range of perspectives as we work together to find even better ways to provide transformational learning opportunities for our students.”

The Michigan Community College Association fosters collaboration, connection, and partnerships among the 28 Michigan public community colleges and their stakeholders.

The MCCA provides strong legislative and public advocacy in Lansing and throughout Michigan, works to improve the image and credibility of community colleges, and advances numerous shared initiatives through the Michigan Center for Student Success, Michigan Colleges Online, Collaborative Programs, and the Michigan New Jobs Training Program.

Members of the MCCA are:

  • Alpena Community College
  • Bay College
  • Delta College
  • Glen Oaks Community College
  • Gogebic Community College
  • Grand Rapids Community College
  • Henry Ford College
  • Jackson College
  • Kalamazoo Valley Community College
  • Kellogg Community College
  • Kirtland Community College
  • Lake Michigan College
  • Lansing Community College
  • Macomb Community College
  • Mid Michigan College
  • Monroe County Community College
  • Montcalm Community College
  • Mott Community College
  • Muskegon Community College
  • North Central Michigan College
  • Northwestern Michigan College
  • Oakland Community College
  • Schoolcraft College
  • Southwestern Michigan College
  • St. Clair County Community College
  • Washtenaw Community College
  • Wayne County Community College
  • West Shore Community College

Learn more information about the Michigan Community College Association.

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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.

The new "educational theatre"
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The new Vistatech marketplace
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Photo 1: A key component of “VisTaTech 2.0” is the addition of this educational theater to be used primarily by Culinary Arts.
Photo 2: Expanded Café retail space and Brewpub are part of “VisTaTech 2.0.”

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. 

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If you need resume help, contact Career Services – it’s free

Spring is a time of renewal, growth and opportunity. If those three words describe your career objectives or job search, then attend the free spring job fair from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6, in the VisTaTech Center at Schoolcraft College.

The job fair is presented by Career Services. More than 50 employers are expected.

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Photo 1: Students are encouraged to attend the job fair to network and explore opportunities.
Photo 2: The April 6 job fair is open to the public.

“The job fair is open to the public – anyone can attend,” said JoAnne Stadnicar, Director, Career Services. “We especially encourage students to attend – even if they aren’t looking for a job at this time – to learn more about the employers, what they have to offer, and to make that initial connection with what could be a future employer.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to network – any time a job seeker/student can get ‘face time’ with an actual recruiter, they should take advantage.”

Although no onsite interviews will be conducted, Stadnicar recommends that attendees should treat the job fair as a screening interview opportunity and prepare and dress accordingly. This also means making sure your resume is up to date.

If you need help with your resume, Career Services offers free assistance to anyone – students and community members alike. Contact them at 734-462-4421 or by email at [email protected].

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National Air Filtration Association recognizes outstanding work at VisTaTech Center.

With the COVID-19 pandemic still very much a part of everyday life, it’s comforting to know that Schoolcraft College has taken a leadership position in ensuring clean air in campus buildings.

That dedication and diligence was recognized on Thursday, October 21, as Schoolcraft College won a National Air Filtration Association (NAFA®) Clean Air Award for the VisTaTech Center. Schoolcraft is the only American college or university to win this award, which recognizes leadership and excellence in air filtration.

“We’re very pleased and honored to receive the NAFA Clean Air Award,” said Stephen Green, Director of Facilities Management. “It shows the dedication of our team at Facilities wanting to make the air as clean as possible.”

That dedication is readily apparent, said Larry Krass, Account Manager with Tri-Dim Filter Corporation in Belleville.

“I have been an air filtration specialist for over 25 years and there are locations that will not and do not take care of the HVAC units,” he said. “I know firsthand that some colleges only change the HVAC filters twice a year and final filters every three to four years. Schoolcraft College has a great staff that takes the time to do the maintenance needed to keep students, employees and community members healthy and safe.”

Crystal-style, Clean Air Award on a table
Schoolcraft College won a National Air Filtration Association (NAFA®) Clean Air Award for the VisTaTech Center.

To be nominated for the clean air award, each nominee must earn a total of 52 points using the criteria set forth by NAFA. In addition to achieving the minimum point requirement, nominees are judged on their due diligence in providing a clean and healthy building environment. 

Krass said facilities are gauged on a series of actions taken to increase filtration in their facilities. Schoolcraft College, for example, earned a high MERV* rating and received top points for this section.

In addition, Schoolcraft College earned high marks for:

  • Maintaining a filter maintenance program with quarterly filter changes
  • Gasketing filters to ensure all air flows through the filters and does not bypass the filters
  • Having digital filter monitoring devices in place to alert if a filter needs changing
  • Regular coil cleaning to keep the coils free from debris and mold issues

Group of men holding a crystal-style award
Shown (left to right) are: Paul Brown, Facilities General Maintenance; Bob Jarosz, Facilities HVAC; Larry Krass, Account Manager, Tri-Dim Filter Corporation; Brent Densmore, Facilities, General Maintenance; Jeff Modica, Facilities Management Supervisor; Rich Worosz, Facilities HVAC; and Stephen Green, Director of Facilities Management.

“I have to work hard with each facility and assist them in what is needed to give the best indoor air quality,” Krass said. “Some locations only want to order filters and are not interested in replacing gasket or cleaning coils. When I find a team like the team at Schoolcraft College, I look forward to helping to do the right thing.”

Green said Facilities looks forward to adding more buildings to the award list.

“This is just the beginning,” he said. “The VisTaTech Center is such an important building because it’s a hub for our campus and the community. You can see we have more people here now and for them to know the air is clean offers tremendous peace of mind.”

*MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values and reports a filter’s ability to capture larger particles between 0.3 and 10 microns. A micron is one-millionth of a meter. For comparison, the average diameter of a human hair varies between 70 and 180 microns. According to the EPA, the higher the MERV rating, the better the filter is at trapping specific types of particles.