October 20, 2016

SVSU partners with CMU College of Medicine

A new cooperative agreement will grant Saginaw Valley State University premedical students early assurance of admission to the Central Michigan University College of Medicine through the Early Assurance Program.

"We're very excited about this partnership, which will strengthen our relationship with a recognized and respected university. It will provide an enhanced opportunity for SVSU's premedical students who demonstrate a desire to practice medicine in Michigan with an emphasis on rural and underserved regions," said CMU College of Medicine Dean Dr. George E. Kikano.

The agreement — signed Oct. 19 — will enhance opportunities for SVSU premed students to navigate more easily through the highly competitive CMU College of Medicine admissions process by:

•    Waiving supplemental application fees;
•    Processing endorsed students on an earlier admissions timeline;
•    Facilitating engagement opportunities between SVSU premed students and existing CMU College of Medicine students; and
•    Reserving up to three positions for endorsed SVSU students to be admitted.

This is the same agreement the College of Medicine has in place with CMU, giving both Saginaw Valley State University and CMU premed students the same opportunity to compete for admission.

"It's just one more way we will be achieving our mission to produce physicians with a passion for serving the people of Michigan who need them most," Kikano said.

Students will be required to meet the College of Medicine's academic standards to participate in the EAP, which is designed as a three-year pilot.

"We're proud to offer outstanding undergraduate preparation in our curriculum and in our advising to empower students to gain admission to medical school," said SVSU President Donald J. Bachand. "We look forward to partnering with CMU's new College of Medicine to identify our students who align with their core values and mission. Those values may be displayed by virtue of being a first-generation college student, graduating from a low-income high school, graduating from a medically underserved urban or rural area, or demonstrating an interest in a high-need medical specialty area."

The CMU College of Medicine welcomed its inaugural class of students in 2013, which will graduate in May 2017. The college now has a full complement of students among all four years of study, with 80 percent of students coming from the state of Michigan.