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SC4 offers late-start classes for a variety of subjects

Registration is open for late-start winter semester classes at St. Clair County Community College. Seats are still available in 12-week classes starting the week of Feb. 4, and eight-week classes starting the week of March 11. Classes are available in Port Huron and online.

Late-start classes allow students to earn credits at a faster pace. Class topics may include biology, business, computers, English, math, political science, psychology and speech. Examples of specific courses offered this winter include:

  • Art Appreciation, ART 120 64 (online)
  • Microcomputer Applications, CIS 115 64 (online)
  • History Western Civilization to 1715, HIS 101 60 (online)
  • Weight Training 01, PE 128 01 (Port Huron)

Students can search for courses and sections at https://sc4sss03.sc4.edu/Student/courses. They can register and pay for classes online in the SC4 Portal at portal.sc4.edu. Registration service also is available at SC4’s One-stop Student Services Center located in the Dr. James C. Acheson Welcome Center on the corner of Erie Street and Glenwood Avenue on the Port Huron campus. Hours of service are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday.

For more information, contact SC4 Enrollment Services at enrollment@sc4.edu or (810) 989-5500.

SC4 student among recipients of Ellucian Pathways Scholarship

Ellucian, the leading provider of software and services built to power higher education, recently announced that St. Clair County Community College is amongst the recipients of the Ellucian Pathways Scholarship. The scholarship is designed to provide financial support to students at institutions with guided pathways programs who, due to financial constraints, may have difficulty continuing their education.

Kathy Brady, a student in the Associate Degree Nursing program at St. Clair County Community College, received the scholarship to help continue her education after family hardship forced her to put her plans on hold. Kathy shared her inspiring story in a video as part of the scholarship application process.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZvBtDPkTIs]

“It is clear that guided pathways programs are helping students complete their degrees, but the sheer volume of submissions for this scholarship underscores the need that still exists for so many students,” said Jackie Yeaney, chief marketing officer at Ellucian. “We truly believe that education has the power to transform lives and are extremely proud to support the Pathways Scholarship recipients as they continue their education and achieve their goals.”

The scholarship awarded a total of $50,000 dispersed to 10 institutions with guided pathways programs. Each institution will provide scholarship funds to students who submitted a video sharing their story, education goals, and the impact higher education has on their life. Remaining funds will be used at the institution’s discretion to help additional students in need continue their course of study.

Professor Laurie Lamont receives SC4 Distinguished Faculty Award.

Laurie Lamont, professor of associate degree nursing at St. Clair County Community College, was honored as the SC4 Distinguished Faculty Award winner during a faculty professional development session Thursday, Jan. 3. The award is based on a faculty member’s personal and professional impact with students and colleagues and in the community. Also nominated for the award were Paul Bedard, professor of mathematics, and Chris Hiebert, professor of engineering graphics.​​​​​

TRIO Student of the Month: Desi Kuntz

When I moved to St. Clair from New York City, I was looking for the next step to further my career. I am a musician first and foremost, but I needed stability — a solid job and schedule. I saw that SC4 offered several different engineering majors and I decided it was worth trying out a class or two to see if I liked it. It turns out I absolutely loved it.

Moving to St. Clair after living in NYC was jarring. I loved my new surroundings, but aside from a few family members, I didn’t know anybody and I didn’t know how to drive. I’ve fought with manic depression and anxiety since I was about 8 or 9 years old, and both were at an all-time high. I found some jobs within walking/biking distance and saved up money, and with driving lessons from my father and family chipping in, I got my first car. After that, it was all about forcing myself to explore the surrounding areas, where I stumbled across SC4 and met more people.

Neither of my parents went to college, and I didn’t really know how to “do” the whole college thing. When I went to college for the first time at 18, I didn’t take it seriously. This time I knew I wanted to be focused on my goals and learn as much as I could. I heard through a friend who was already in TRIO that it would benefit me greatly if I could get in, so I applied.

TRIO helped me outline my goals and plan out the steps I needed to graduate within a realistic timeframe. They helped take out the guesswork and treated me like a real human being, not just another faceless student with a number. I also appreciated that TRIO checked in with my teachers to make sure I was doing what I was supposed to and remind the teachers that I may need some help.

I’m so grateful for the professors I have had for inspiring me to do my best, my advisors for looking out for my academic and personal well-being, the truly gifted students who were willing to lend their help and give advice while expecting nothing in return, the best physics tutor ever (Callahan), and the work-study opportunity in the Fine Arts Department with Celeste Skalnek and Debbie Sta Cruz.

I would definitely recommend the TRIO program to other students, but only to those who won’t squander the opportunity. There are only so many people that can be in the program, and I made sure that if I’m taking what could be another student’s spot that I would use it to my fullest. TRIO will help you, but you have to help yourself first and allow yourself to be helped.

My number one goal right now is to enjoy the process. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the goal that life passes by, and I want to savor every moment. I try to be honest, humble and sincere, and I hope to inspire others to try their best and remain focused. It always comes back to my favorite quote from Sir Isaac Newton: “I do not know what I may appear to the world; but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.”