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New SC4, Wayne State partnership helps future engineers save time and money 

A new partnership between St. Clair County Community College (SC4) and Wayne State University will provide SC4 students with a seamless transfer pathway to Wayne State’s College of Engineering, strengthening the commitment of both institutions to prepare future leaders and innovators in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) for high tech, high skilled jobs.   

Students interested in earning a bachelor’s degree from Wayne State in the following programs can now earn the majority of their core engineering courses as well as the bulk of their general education courses at SC4 before transferring on to Wayne State, where they must complete a minimum of 30 credits toward their degree.  

  • Biomedical engineering 
  • Chemical engineering 
  • Civil engineering 
  • Electrical/electronic engineering 
  • Industrial engineering 
  • Mechanical engineering  
  • Information technology 
  • Computer science  
  • Electrical/electronic engineering technology  
  • Electromechanical engineering technology  
  • Mechanical engineering technology  
  • Welding and metallurgical engineering technology   

SC4 students also can earn an Associate of Science degree along the way. 

The future-focused partnership comes as SC4 launches its STEM-based Challenger Learning Center in collaboration with Challenger Center and Unity in Learning, which consists of the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, Leslie Science & Nature Center, Yankee Air Museum and SC4.  

Challenger Learning Center at SC4 is the only Center of its kind in Michigan and one of 40 Challenger Learning Centers nationwide and around the world. It is a fully immersive, space-themed, STEM experience aimed at deepening understanding and appreciation of STEM careers and topics and building critical 21st-century skills. It offers fun and unique learning and team-building opportunities for students, educators, corporations and community residents. 

“We know many SC4 students transfer on to earn four-year degrees and have gone on to lead in cutting-edge industries, but too many others lose interest in crucial STEM subjects or encounter barriers along the way,” said Dr. Deborah A. Snyder, SC4 president. “We can do more to inspire, educate and prepare students. Our Challenger Learning Center will provide greater access and opportunity to STEM experiences, and this partnership with Wayne State will help students save on tuition costs and time as they pursue a bachelor’s degree from one of Michigan’s most innovative four-year institutions.” 

“The demand for talented and innovative professionals in the STEM fields has never been higher, particularly in Michigan which has the fourth-largest engineering workforce in the country,” said Farshad Fotouhi, dean of the Wayne State College of Engineering. “This partnership with SC4 will strengthen the pipeline of students looking to become leaders in the high-tech marketplace, not only in Southeast Michigan but globally as well.” 

The institutions announced the partnership April 29 during a Challenger Learning Center at SC4 launch event. 

Prospective students can learn more about and apply to St. Clair County Community College online. Contact the SC4 team with questions at starthere@sc4.edu or 810-989-5571, or schedule an advising appointment online. 

Students who need help transferring to Wayne State can contact the Transfer Student Success Center at transfer@wayne.edu; set up a virtual advising appointment online at tssc.youcanbook.me/ or visit TSSC.wayne.edu to live chat with advisers from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekdays. 

Use it or lose it

I’m sure we have all heard the age-old saying, “If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it.” I am not sure that I have always believed that until now.

Now, you have some great tools we have uncovered this school year as they related to financial literacy. I believe if you aren’t practicing some of those tools then you will most likely lose them. Let’s take a recap of the year by highlighting 15 of the tools outlined in the blogs. 

  • Create a personal monthly budget. Your budget is the foundation of your financial health, and it’s easy to get started. Learn how to create a personal budget by looking at the previous TRIO blogs on budgeting.
  • Start an emergency fund. Experts recommend setting aside at least three months’ worth of basic living expenses in case of an unexpected financial burden like a layoff or large medical expense. 
  • Spending money is/should be the perfect way to increase your overall value. Spending money should be a well-thought-out process, and the best way to remedy financial literacy is by budgeting. 
  • The five key components of financial literacy are earning, spending, saving, and investing, borrowing, and protecting. Credit is the ability to borrow money or access goods or services with the understanding that you’ll pay later.
  • Two primary forms of credit — revolving credit and installment credit. Revolving credit usually is your credit card. The second form of credit is installment credit. Installment credit is a loan that you borrow one amount and repay it with interest in accrues in installments each month.
  • Borrow is using something belonging to someone else to return it. “Loan” can be a noun, such as a sum of money that you must pay back with interest, or a verb, the act of lending something to someone.
  • Put a serious plan into play and stick to it. There is nothing that is out of your reach. If you write out a solid plan and work it, then you will have it. Financial health is yours.
  • Know your holiday triggers and combat them
  • If you are to be financially literate, it is safe to say that you must know yourself well, bad habits and all, for they are just as telling as the good ones.
  • Create a Financial Literacy Vision Board. Yes, let’s have a vision boarding party for our money. Statistically, we are 1.4 times more likely to accomplish our goals when we can picture them.
  • Our attitudes, behaviors, and heart posture concerning money are major factors contributing to our relationship with our money. 
  • Look at decluttering, sweeping, dusting, and tossing a few items out in your finances. 
  • Scammers are real, and it is your job to protect yourself.
  • Taxes can seem scary, but the best way to avoid any unnecessary stress regarding taxes is to plan and become informed. 

As summer quickly approached please don’t forget the 15 tools, we gained this year and don’t forget to use them, even during the summer months. Keep at your budget and if you have space in your budget, save more. As always, I believe in you, happy summer, and let’s build! 

April is tax season

Taxes can be a snooze fest topic to discuss but for us it’s not because we desire to grow and be more financially literate.

As you may know this is “Tax Month” and “Tax Day” is quickly approaching, April 15. This is the deadline when you must file your takes on all income earned during the previous calendar year.

If you are a single person, you only are required to file taxes if you make move than $12,200 during the year.  If you made less but had income taxes withheld throughout the year, you will likely qualify for a tax refund and might want to file anyway to get your money back. 

Taxes can seem scary, but the best way to avoid any unnecessary stress regarding taxes is to plan and become informed. 

According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), scholarships, fellowships, and grants, including financial aid, are tax free only to a certain extent. To determine what qualifies as tax free, you must understand the difference between qualified and non-qualified education expenses. Here are some examples:

Qualified Education Expenses:

  • Tuition and fees required to enroll at an eligible educational institution.
  • Course related expenses, such as fees, books, supplies, and equipment that are required for the courses. 

Non-qualified Education Expenses:

  • Room and board
  • Health insurance
  • Research
  • Travel

It is important to remember that if any part of your scholarship, fellowship, or grant goes toward non-qualified education expenses, you will have to file a tax return according to the IRS. Your scholarship is viewed as individual income under the federal government if it is not purposely used for a qualified educational expense.

Here are some relevant forms to file your education-related taxes:

1098-T: Tallies expenses paid to the college or university

1098-e: Summarizes student loan interest payments

If you are paying back federal student loans, you may qualify for up to a $2,500 tax deduction based on the student loan interest you have paid. You may use the 1098-e to file for that deduction.

Of course, this does not have everything concerning taxes mentioned. However, as a student this information is golden. Again, I hope this information is beneficial for you. Get those taxes completed if you haven’t and get yo money! Who knows you could add to your savings or pay off credit debt? Let’s Build.

Reference

https://www.irs.gov/site-index-search?search=taxes&field_pup_historical_1=1&field_pup_historical=1&f%5B0%5D=focus_area%3A15686