Category: Academics

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).

SC4 releases schedule for upcoming health sciences program info sessions

Throughout the coming months, St. Clair County Community College will hold free information sessions on main campus for a number of its in-demand health sciences programs.

Attending an info session is the first step for anyone interested in earning a health sciences degree from SC4. For those interested in nursing programs, attending a session is mandatory.

Schedule:

Group informational meeting

  • Meet with representatives from SC4’s medical assisting, paramedic/EMT, respiratory therapy and health information technology programs
  • 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 11 – Health Sciences Building, Room 106

Health Information Technology

  • 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18 – Health Sciences Building, Room 106
  • Noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 – College Center, Room 100A

The health information technology program prepares students for a variety of careers in the health care field. Students learn the process of acquiring, analyzing, and protecting digital and traditional medical information, which is vital to providing quality patient care, supporting medical education and research, and more. Graduates are eligible to take the nationally recognized Registered Health Information Technician Exam.

For more information about info sessions and additional program details, visit sc4.edu/hit.

Medical Assisting

  • 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1 – Applied Technology Center, Room 119
  • 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 9 – Health Sciences Building, Room 138
  • 6 to 7 p.m.  Monday, Oct. 14 – Health Sciences Building, Room 138
  • 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18 – Health Sciences Building, Room 138

The medical assisting program is a 12-month certificate program that prepares students to perform various clinical and administrative duties in a variety of health care settings. Graduates gain the knowledge and skills necessary for further health sciences education and are eligible to take the national credentialing exam.

For more information about info sessions and additional program details, visit sc4.edu/medical-assisting.

Radiologic Technology

  • 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1 – Welcome Center, Room 206
  • 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10 – Welcome Center, Room 206
  • 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20 – Welcome Center, Room 206

The radiologic technology program prepares students to become radiologic technologists by combining imaging technology with patient care skills to create quality radiography images. It has a five-year, 100 percent first-time passage rate on the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) Exam, a national registry exam that grants certification in radiologic technology.

For more information about info sessions and additional program details, visit sc4.edu/radtech.

Respiratory Therapy

  • 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 9 – Health Sciences Building, Room 105
  • 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14 – Health Sciences Building, Room 105
  • 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18 – Health Sciences Building, Room 105

The respiratory therapy program prepares students to become respiratory therapists through the assessment and treatment of patients with acute and chronic lung and cardiovascular disorders and diseases. Respiratory therapists have demanding responsibilities related to patient care and are a vital component of the health care team. Students graduating from the program will obtain an Associate in Applied Arts and Science degree, and become eligible to take the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) credentialing examination.

For more information about info sessions and additional program details, visit sc4.edu/respiratory-therapy.

Nursing programs

Practical Nursing

  • 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6 – Main Building, Room 312
  • 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 – Health Sciences Building, Room 203

The Practical Nursing program prepares graduates to take the state exam to become a licensed practical nurse. This program prepares students to work within the interdisciplinary team under the direct supervision of an RN in a variety of settings such as long-term care facilities, rehabilitation facilities, doctor’s offices and home health care.

Nursing Transition Program

  • 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6 – Main Building, Room 312
  • 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17 – Health Sciences Building, Room 106
  • 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 – Health Sciences Building, Room 203

The ADN transition program is designed for licensed health care professionals who want to become registered nurses. The program is an accelerated course of study designed to expand upon previous education and experience.

Associate Degree Nursing

  • 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6 – Main Building, Room 312
  • 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17 – Health Sciences Building, Room 106
  • 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 – Health Sciences Building, Room 203

The Associate Degree Nursing program prepares students for work with an interdisciplinary team in health care with multiple areas of entry such as surgery, mental health, obstetrical nursing and other adult and child areas of care. Graduates are eligible to take the national licensure examination to become a registered nurse.

For detailed information on all of SC4’s nursing programs, visit sc4.edu/nursing.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

  • 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 – Health Sciences Building, Room 136.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI, procedures play an important role in diagnosing diseases and injuries. An MRI uses magnetic field and radio waves to produce images of the inside of the human body. MRI technologies are mostly employed by hospitals but increasingly, jobs are becoming available in physician offices and imaging centers.

The MRI program is offered through a partnership with other Michigan Community Colleges in the Michigan Radiologic and Imaging Science (MiRIS) Consortium. It prepares students to meet the established objectives and eligibility requirements of the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) and to complete the MRI certification exam.

For more information about info sessions and additional program details, visit sc4.edu/mri.

Paramedic

  • Information session to be hosted in November 2019. More information to follow.

This 12-month certificate program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs to prepare students for exciting careers saving lives on ambulances, fire department advanced life support units or in hospital emergency rooms. Graduates are eligible to take the national registry paramedic exam and apply for the Michigan Paramedic License.

For more information about info sessions and additional program details, visit sc4.edu/paramedic.

First-generation college student and SC4 alumnus pursuing passion with Detroit Lions

Pursuing a college education — one that didn’t break the bank — was a must for first-generation college student Brendan Buffa when he graduated from St. Clair High School in 2012.

“I knew deep down I wanted to continue my education after high school, but the fear of taking on a massive amount of debt was very real to me,” Buffa said. “I was incredibly grateful to my parents, who said that if I did in fact decide to go to college, they’d help pay for my first year at St. Clair County Community College.”

According to Buffa, he found much more than an affordable education at SC4, including faculty members, clubs and experiences that helped him explore options and grow prior to committing to a four-year university. He also discovered a passion that has driven him ever since.

Buffa was approached by SC4 faculty members Gary Schmitz and John Lusk in his first semester to consider writing for the Erie Square Gazette, SC4’s student newspaper. He then spent the next three semesters at SC4 writing, editing and covering Skippers Athletics. The experience helped introduce him to athletes, connect him to campus and the community, and learn about people in a whole new way.

“SC4 taught me individualism,” Buffa said. “The idea that everybody is a person and has a story to tell. That was what made SC4 so unique and memorable. Everybody on campus — whether they were young students, middle-aged students, athletes, faculty, staff —everybody had a story to tell that was so fully unique.”

His campus involvement also made him aware of new career possibilities that could seamlessly merge his passions for writing and sports.

“I didn’t really know there were alternative career paths in athletics,” Buffa said. “My SC4 professors saw hope and drive in me. They challenged and molded me. Thanks to them, I became aware of a new career path and have since been in a full sprint to achieve my goals.”

Buffa transferred to Western Michigan University in fall 2014. With collegiate writing experience already under his belt, he started as a staff writer at the 100-year-old Western Herald before being promoted to assistant sports editor and then editor-in-chief in 2016. He also served as a member of the Student Media Group Board, which was the decision-making entity of the university’s media outlets, where he advocated to give his 60-member writing team experiences they wouldn’t have elsewhere.

“That time in my life was difficult, but it resulted in great success,” Buffa said. “Leading a paper, taking full-time classes and working another part-time job in the midst of it all was really hard to juggle. But SC4’s ability to mold my creativity, leadership and independence was a direct contribution to the success I found and helped others find as well.”

Buffa graduated from WMU in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in public relations and sports marketing. Upon graduation, he served as a promotions coordinator at 97.1 The Ticket in Southfield, Michigan, and as a digital content producer and assignment desk editor at WWMT Newschannel 3 in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Grateful for all his past experiences — which also include a freelance gig for the Dallas Cowboys and covering the WMU Broncos’ undefeated season and Cotton Bowl game — Buffa remains laser-focused and is thrilled to be starting in a new role with the Detroit Lions as a new media web intern. There, he supports the new media team through backend website assistance, site photo and gallery production, media interview post-copy, article and video creation, and more.

“Working with the Detroit Lions has been the ultimate goal since 2013,” Buffa said. “It’s an opportunity I’ve only dreamed of.”

Ultimately, Buffa looks forward to expanding his roles and expertise in professional sports in the coming years and is more than ready to put in the hard work. An avid community college advocate, he’ll tell anyone who listens that his time at SC4 helped him get his start.

“SC4 is where it all started,” Buffa says. “It was the first time I was able to dip my feet into the water and experience things. It taught me so much about independence and autonomy, and about friendships and support. I found a community at SC4. I’m grateful to my professors to this day.”

He added, “If people want to further their education with college, community college should always and forever be the first consideration. It is wholly accessible to people from all walks of life. If you want to further yourself and are hindered by other commitments or still not sure where you want to direct your path in life, community college will give you the tools and experiences to do so.”

Dollar, Heiden receive 2019 President’s Faculty Excellence Awards

Two St. Clair County Community College instructors were recently selected to receive the newly-launched 2019 President’s Faculty Excellence Awards, recognizing their dedicated contributions to student success at the college. Student nominations were used to determine the recipients.

Professor of Biology Carrie Dollar received the Full-Time Faculty Award, and Adjunct Mathematics Instructor Angela Heiden, the Adjunct Faculty Award.

Both faculty members were honored for their excellence in the classroom, ability to inspire students, and service to the college and community.

“These faculty members bring extraordinary dedication and innovation into their classrooms every day, making a positive impact on students that exemplifies the unique value of an SC4 education,” said President Dr. Deborah A. Snyder. “We are grateful for all they do on behalf of the college and our students.”