Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI)
The SVSU Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is a member-based organization that offers non-credit educational programs & travel opportunities for the over-50 populatioin. It has more than 1700 members.
Student Counseling Center
- The Student Counseling Center offers a range of confidential services to support student health. In addition, we strive to maintain updated information regarding emergency contacts and community resources. All services are provided or supervised by Licensed Clinical Social Workers.
- Services include: Assessments on substance abuse or mental health issues, Crisis Intervention, Community Referral for counseling and medication, Outreach Programs, Classroom Presentations, Club & Organization Presentations, and Mental Wellness programs.
- Healthy Mind Series: free one-hour workshops/seminars are offered to students each semester.
- Some of the issues they may see students about are; home sickness, time or stress management, roommate issues, depression and anxiety.
- You can meet with a professional counseling for an hour session where it will be determined if ongoing counseling is needed. The counselor can give you a referral into the community and help you make the first appointment for ongoing counseling. If ongoing counseling is not needed they may give you recommendations to help your situation or issue.
- Privacy: All information discussed with the counselor and visits are confidential and do not become part of your official school record.
Housing Operations
- The Office of University Housing Operations provides answers about housing and dining options, contract questions, damage and maintenance concerns, mail, furnishings, telephone and internet connections, key problems and lockouts, check-in and check-out requests, as well as special accommodation requests.
- Students pick up and return their housing packets here. Students may also change their meal plans and room assignments through this office during certain grace periods. The office tries their hardest to honor roommate requests, but recommends that individuals that would like to live together send their housing packets in at the same time (and requesting each other).
- Meal Plan Options: Weekly meal plans or a block of meals are a great option for the residential SVSU student or even for the student who commutes to campus just three days each week. Meals are used in the main cafeteria (Doan) while DB can be used in any location on campus (including the Doan).
- There are different meal options for students, and it is mandatory for freshmen, who live on campus, to have a meal plan. Freshman who commute do not need to live on campus. Meals reset each Sunday, but declining balance dollars do carry over from the fall semester to the winter semester.
- Freshman Options
- 11 meals a week + 450 Declining Balance
- 14 meals a week + $350 Declining Balance
- Unlimited + $250 Declining Balance
- There are different meal options for students, and it is mandatory for freshmen, who live on campus, to have a meal plan. Freshman who commute do not need to live on campus. Meals reset each Sunday, but declining balance dollars do carry over from the fall semester to the winter semester.
- Declining Balance Options: DB works just like a debit card and can be added in any amount, starting with an initial buy-in of $50. Declining Balance is tax exempt so it can save students cash.
The Valley Vanguard Office
- The Valley Vanguard is the student newspaper of SVSU
- Copies can be found on the newspaper stands located around campus, or the paper can also be accessed online.
- Students can work for the Valley Vanguard, as a member of the writing, editing, or photojournalism staff.
Residential Life
- Room-mate Conflicts: Students are encouraged to settle their differences and meet with their Resident Assistant (RA) for help. If this problem continues, they will meet with their Resident Director, and if still they have conflict, the Residential Life office will meet with the Housing Office and try and move one or both students to a new housing location so that they can enjoy the rest of their year at SVSU.
Student Wellness Programs
- When Passing this office, Please say this as close this wording as possible: This office is home to Peer Health Educators, which is a group of students dedicated promoting student well-being. They educate their peers in fun ways like programs and games around a variety of topics such as general wellness, substance use, sexual health, sexual assault prevention, and environmental sustainability. Different committees will do unique events relative to what their committees are about! For example, last year, the wellness committee put on a Puppy Petting Palooza where they brought puppies on campus the week before finals as a fun way to de-stress before finals.
Marketplace at the Doan - Dining Services
- The Marketplace is a unique and exciting environment. It is an all-you-care-to-eat atmosphere that offers different stations with food ranging from freshly made wraps to fresh-baked cookies to custom-made stir fry. Food menus at each station change daily, and can be customized to each student’s unique tastes and desires.
- The cafeteria was named “Marketplace at Doan” in the summer of 2011 when it was remodeled and expanded.
- To pay at the Marketplace, you can use a meal swipe from the SVSU ID card, pay with your declining balance, write a check, or use a credit card (MasterCard, Discover, or Visa.)
- They have special dining events such as Carnival Night, Soul Food Day, etc.
- Student with special dietary needs/allergies are welcome to contact Dining Services in Curtiss Hall to discuss options.
Independent Bank
- Approximately 40% of SVSU students bank with Independent. There are 12 branches within Saginaw, Bay City, and University Center. Independent bank offers the following perks:
- Free checking (150 free checks)
- No minimum balance needs to be kept
- Three ATM’s located on campus – one in the Ryder Center (2nd floor), one by Independent Bank, and one located near Einstein Bagel Brothers in the College of Education.
- Student ID cards serve as an ATM card throughout the campus, and an additional VISA Check Card is available to students. There are options of directly depositing payroll checks and financial aid refunds into the checking account
The SVSU Spirit Rock
- Brought onto campus in 2001 by Student Association.
- The custom is to paint it at night so no one will see it being done. An unwritten rule is that people should wait three days after it is painted before painting it something new.
Student Center Overview
- Built in 2003, the Student Center is the home of the SVSU Student Life Center. It also houses Papa John’s Pizza and the C-Store. There are also study areas, lounges, the Rotunda, the Thompson Student Activities Room, Unity Room and more. All of these spaces are available for student individual and group activities and meetings.
C-Store
- On-campus convenience store with everything a college student could need
- Papa John’s Pizza was just added in the Fall of 2010 and serves pizza by the slice or whole pizzas and bread sticks.
- Declining Balance can be used at both locations.
Student Life Center
- Student Life sponsors numerous campus events such as Homecoming, Valley Nights weekend Programming, Cards’ Party, Red Pride Giveaways at numerous SVSU events, and numerous weekly entertainment events.
- Currently, there are over 200 registered student organizations for this year. In order to create a student organization all you need are three students (undergraduate or graduate) who want to be involved and a faculty adviser.
- We have groups that represent the following categories: Academic/Professional, Social Greek, Recreational, Religious, Special Interests, Honorary, Community Service & Philanthropic, and Residential/Housing.
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Alternative Breaks- A great program that is sponsored by the Student Life Center as well. This program offers a winter or spring break very different from the “typical” college spring break. This program gives students the opportunity to learn about social issues from the inside by providing a hands-on learning experience both nationally and internationally and then gives students the opportunity to apply what they have learned back in our own community after the trip is done.