Category: Academics

Alumna gets head start on career, focuses on environmental chemistry

For 2016 Capac High School graduate Megan Jamison, the Blue Water Middle College Academy (BWMCA) was too good an opportunity to pass up.

“My experience at SC4 was very memorable. I was able to get a head start on my college career, explore different fields of study and earn a degree just one year out of high school,” said Jamison, who enrolled in the BWMCA and graduated from St. Clair County Community College with an associate degree in arts in 2017.

While at SC4, Jamison participated in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and found her passion for science thanks to Professor Suzanne Doherty’s geology course. She also was able to adjust to college life and finish most of her general education requirements for her bachelor’s degree.

Jamison transferred to Oakland University in fall 2017 and in 2019 earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science with a concentration in resource management and environmental sustainability.

She currently works as a research assistant in an environmental chemistry lab conducting research on hydrothermal vents in the deep ocean and the impact of climate change on soil microbes. A paper she co-authored, “Temperature sensitivity of mineral-enzyme interactions on the hydrolysis of cellobiose and indican by β-glucosidase,” was recently published in Science of the Total Environment. Additionally, she is hard at work as an interpretive guide through the Huron-Clinton Metroparks, teaching STEM-based programs to pre-K-12 school groups.

Just three years past high school graduation, Jamison has experienced a great deal of success and shows gratitude for her community college experience at SC4.

“My goal is to continue my education, focusing more on environmental chemistry,” Jamison said. “Community college helped me transition easily from high school to college to the workplace and was a more affordable, accessible option. If I had the choice to go back in time, I would still choose to go to SC4 because I think it was the perfect fit for me.”

Registration open for SC4 late-start fall classes

Registration is now open for late-start fall semester classes at St. Clair County Community College.

Seats are available in 12-week classes starting the week of Monday, Sept. 16, and eight-week classes starting the week of Monday, Oct. 14. 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 fall include:

  • Art Appreciation, ART-120
  • Principles of Business, BUS-150
  • Business Law, BUS-153
  • Business Math, BUS-158
  • Marketing Principles, BUS-180
  • Microcomputer Applications, CIS-115
  • Introduction to Criminal Justice, CJ-101
  • History of Western Civilization to 1715, HIS-101
  • History of U.S. 1877 to Present, HIS-150
  • Foundations of Math, MTH-104
  • Plane Trigonometry, MTH-111
  • Pre-Calculus, MTH-113
  • Introduction to Statistics, MTH-120
  • Weight Training, PE-128
  • Introduction to Political Sciences, PS-101
  • Introduction to Psychology, PSY-180

New students can apply at sc4.edu/starthere and follow five easy steps to register. Current students 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.

“Students still have time to enroll for fall semester classes,” said Vice President of Student Services Pete Lacey. “Whether you recently graduated from high school or are looking to return to college and complete a certificate or degree, our team is here to help you.”

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

 

SC4 begins Campus Patrol Cadet Program to provide practical experience to criminal justice students

St. Clair County Community College is pleased to announce its Campus Patrol Cadet Program, which was created to provide practical, hands-on experience to students pursuing a SC4 degree in criminal justice.

“This program will provide its participants with a fully immersive, professional experience right here on our campus,” said SC4 Professor of Criminal Justice James Jones. “The more experiences and scenarios we are able to offer to our students, the better prepared they will be to succeed upon earning their degree.”

The Campus Patrol Cadet Program will offer part-time employment as a campus patrol cadet. Job responsibilities include performing tasks to assist permanent campus patrol staff, patrolling campus, and assisting students, faculty, staff and visitors on campus. Variable shifts and hours, including nights and weekends, are required.

While preference will be given to criminal justice students, the program is open to active students across campus and program areas with a minimum GPA of 2.0.

SC4’s associate degree in criminal justice prepares students to enter police or corrections academies, as well as serve as court advocates, private security workers and more. SC4 students practice crime scene investigation (CSI) techniques such as fingerprint and evidence collections; attend trials and other court proceedings; participate in field trips to the local jail and state prisons; and gain exposure to the field through presentations by active police officers and other criminal justice professionals.

Those interested in applying to the Campus Patrol Cadet Program may do so online. Those interested in pursuing an associate degree in criminal justice can learn more at sc4.edu/starthere.

SC4’s newly launched respiratory therapy program earns Provisional Accreditation

St. Clair County Community College is pleased to announce it has received official notice of Provisional Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) for its newly launched respiratory therapy program.

The 24-month Associate in Applied Arts and Sciences degree program will admit its first cohort of students this fall semester. Graduates who meet all requirements will be recognized by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) as being eligible to sit for appropriate credentialing examinations.

“We’re thrilled to receive Provisional Accreditation for this important and in-demand degree program,” said Christine Robinson, director of respiratory therapy at SC4. “There’s been a great deal of interest. I’m confident that students in this program will be ready in the workplace thanks to our hands-on curriculum and personalized learning environment in our beautifully renovated, state-of-the-art Health Sciences Building.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers in respiratory therapy are projected to grow 23 percent through 2026, much faster than the average for other occupations.

SC4’s program combines classroom and practicum experiences in hospitals, outpatient testing facilities and physician offices to give graduates the knowledge and skills they need to enter the field as licensed respiratory therapists.

Those interested in studying respiratory therapy at SC4 can find out more online or attend one of the below upcoming information sessions on SC4’s campus.

  • Monday, Sept. 9, 2019 – 6 to 7 p.m., Health Sciences Building, Room 109
  • Monday, Oct. 14, 2019 – 6 to 7 p.m., Health Sciences Building, Room 109
  • Monday, Nov. 18, 2019 – 6 to 7 p.m., Health Sciences Building, Room 109

The St. Clair County Community College respiratory therapy program, CoARC Program Number 200635, Associate in Applied Arts and Sciences degree program, located on SC4’s campus in Port Huron, Mich., holds Provisional Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (coarc.com).