Category: Academics

SC4 to hold free group advising sessions for nursing, HIT programs Feb. 14

On Thursday, Feb. 14, St. Clair County Community College will hold free group advising sessions on main campus for those interested in its nursing and Health Information Technology (HIT) programs.

Attending a group advising session is the first step for anyone interested in earning a health sciences degree from SC4. For those interested in the Practical Nursing (LPN), Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) or ADN Transition programs, attending a group advising session is mandatory.

Feb. 14 group advising session schedule:

  • Practical Nursing – 9 to 10 a.m., North Building, Room 102
  • Associate Degree Nursing – 10 to 11 a.m., North Building, Room 102
  • Nursing Transition – 1 to 2 p.m., North Building, Room 102
  • Health Information Technology – Noon to 1 p.m., Applied Technology Center, Room 117

“Our nursing program continues to be ranked one of the best in Michigan among two- and four-year institutions, and the health information technology field is expected to increase 22 percent by 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,” said SC4 Dean of Health Sciences Jenny Giles-Voss. “It’s a great time for students to enroll in these rewarding programs.”

Program information:

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.

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.

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.

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.

SC4 to host 33rd Annual Sanilac County Academic Games Feb. 9

The 33rd Annual Raymond T. Dunbar Jr. Sanilac County Academic Games will take place this Saturday, Feb. 9, on St. Clair County Community College’s Port Huron Campus.

During the Academic Games, hundreds of students and coaches representing seven school districts in Sanilac County come together to challenge each other in four academic areas: science, mathematics, social studies and language arts.

The day will consist of three rounds of questioning to determine the winning school. Competition kicks off at 9 a.m., and the final round begins at 12:30 p.m. Questions are written by SC4 faculty members, who also will judge the competition.

Participating districts in the 2019 Academic Games include Sandusky Community Schools, Peck Community Schools, Marlette Community Schools, Deckerville Community Schools, Croswell-Lexington Community Schools, Carsonville-Port Sanilac Schools and Brown City Schools.

For more information about the 2019 Academic Games, contact SC4 Achievement Center and International Students Specialist Bonnie Romzek at bromzek@sc4.edu.

Photo: Jeffrey M. Smith

TRIO Student of the Month: Mackenzie Hiller

I initially chose SC4 because they offered online classes, which I was eager to try because I was not very comfortable with the traditional classroom environment in high school. I loved being able to work independently at my own pace and create my own schedule. When I started at SC4 last summer, I was surprised to learn that college is so much more than just going to class — I realized that I can express myself. In college, and specifically at SC4, students can personalize their education to fit their interests. Though my main area of interest was the arts, I will be graduating this May with three honors degrees: associate of arts, associate of science and associate of general education.

I heard about the TRIO program when I had my first advising appointment after applying to SC4. What interested me was the priority registration and personalized advising. Throughout high school, I would have to constantly remind the staff who I was, so it was a very nice change to come to SC4 and have professors and advisors remember not just my name but many other things about me.

Some of my biggest challenges have come with being a first-generation college student. Neither of my parents went to college, so I sometimes felt lost. Another large barrier in my life has been my mental health — I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression when I was 14. It not only affects my educational journey but my everyday life as well.  I am grateful to all the people in the TRIO program who are patient with me and help me understand things that I don’t really know anything about. The support seminars and personalized advising have been a great help as I try to make college simpler when I can. College is a lot more than the classes — it’s also figuring out how to pay for your education, where to transfer, what program you want to be in and what career you want to have when you graduate. It is incredibly helpful to know there are people in TRIO there to help me.

TRIO has been such a great program for me I feel like it would be wrong not to recommend it to other students. Being a first-generation student is not easy, but having all the people in TRIO there to answer your questions makes things a lot easier. College can be daunting, but having the TRIO team there every step of the way is something I couldn’t do without. Amy Hengehold and Shawne Jowett have been such a great source of support in my education. I wouldn’t have been nearly as motivated without their help.

Applying to SC4 for me was a snap decision — I knew I wanted to go to college, but I wasn’t sure where to start. My future goals involve simply doing things that I want to do, whether it be a dream I’ve wanted to realize for years or just another snap decision. I would like to travel and see different parts of the world, especially Japan. I also hope to pursue a bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in film.