February 21, 2024
SVSU Board approves university funding for Lake Huron Environmental Research Station
The Saginaw Valley State University Board of Control authorized two capital projects during the Board’s regular meeting Monday, Feb. 19, including $2.5 million of university funding to support construction of a $10 million facility along the Saginaw River, near the river mouth with Saginaw Bay.
When completed, SVSU’s Lake Huron Environmental Research Station will be the first university environmental research facility on Lake Huron. Construction is expected to begin in 2025. The project previously received $7.5 million in funding from the State of Michigan as part of legislation signed into law last December.
The research station will build upon SVSU’s relationships with several partner agencies to improve public health and expand scientific understanding in the Saginaw Bay watershed.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts job opportunities for environmental scientists and specialists to grow by 6% through the year 2032.
The Board also approved spending up to $650,000 for various concrete and asphalt repairs across campus.
In other action, the Board:
- Granted tenure, effective July 1, to seven faculty members:
- Zachary Cohle, economics
- Peggy Jones, mechanical engineering
- Babak Lotfaliei, finance
- Brian Maricle, biology
- Aos Mulahwaish, computer science and information systems
- Kathleen Schachman, nursing
- Kavindya Senanayake, physics
- Appointed Andrews Hooper Pavlik PLC to perform SVSU’s annual audits through the 2029 fiscal year.
- Amended SVSU’s energy contracting authority to enter into purchase agreements through the year 2053.
- Appointed a nominating committee to elect Board officers for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
- Established the Board’s meeting schedule for the 2024-25 academic year.