Contributions to Jackson County
Spring Arbor University proudly commits itself to promoting the welfare of the Spring Arbor community and surrounding areas by supporting various endeavors within neighboring communities to advance the well-being of its citizens and to ensure a better future for coming generations. SAU shows its support through cooperation in various activities, events and collaborative efforts in partnership with other surrounding organizations and institutions.
SmartZone Initiative
The Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) Collaborative Support Commitment consists of Baker College, Jackson Community College and Spring Arbor University, who declare to work collaboratively in providing support for the installation and cultivation of a SmartZone district in Blackman Township. The three IHEs agree to provide a synergistic support network by using an integrated approach to stimulating economic development, research and commercialization.
SAU participation in arts and cultural activities
- Ella Sharp Museum -- SAU participates in activities and provides support to the board, as well as supporting and attending museum activities.
- Jackson Symphony Orchestra -- SAU sponsor concerts and provides support to the board.
- SAU hosts the local home-school band and provides instruction for the band.
SAU employees serve on nearly 40 boards and committees in Jackson County including:
SAU actively supports economic efforts and organizations
SAU hosts Women’s conferences
- SAU hosted a Women's Health Conference in 2007 in conjunction with Foote Hospital.
- SAU hosted a Women's Leadership Conference in spring 2008 to provide the knowledge and tools to help women excel in leadership roles. The mission of the conference was to encourage and educate women of all ages about the importance of leadership in their lives.
Commitment to the success of downtown Jackson
Through the use of the SAU-Jackson campus in downtown Jackson, SAU has had the privilege of opening these facilities to others for events that promote our community. The Jackson site has also served as a host site for the Leadership Academy and the Retail Academy.
Junior Achievement of the Michigan Edge, Inc.
SAU is a member of the Junior Achievement of Michigan Edge, Inc., which impacts about 7,000 students in 21 school districts throughout Jackson, Hillsdale and Lenawee counties. The main goal at Junior Achievement of the Michigan Edge Inc. is to ensure that students who participate in our programs will leave school with the tools they need to be financially and professionally successful.
SAU student, faculty and staff participation in the Jackson area
- SAU students serve as writers for the local community paper, The Blazer.
- Spring Arbor University owns and operates four radio stations utilizing professional-grade students:
- 106.9 WSAE "HOME.fm" is SAU’s signature radio station that covers most of South Central Michigan playing a unique mix of both family friendly mainstream music as well as today’s best Christian music.
- 89.3 WJKN “The Message” plays a variety of Christian talk and teaching programming as well as a mix of Christian inspirational music for the Jackson community.
- 1540 and 1510 KTGG/WJKN-AM "Inspirational" (Spring Arbor and Jackson)
- Sixteen SAU students served in Jackson over spring break. Impact (Jackson) reached out to families in need.
- School of Education (SOE) faculty & staff volunteered with others in the community to read to 411 Bennett Elementary School children as part of its “Read Across America” event. SOE instructors John Williams’ and Sally Ingles’ EDU 100 students also volunteered.
- In 2007, SOE received $11,530 from the Hurst Foundation to partner with the Western School District to bring the Concept and practice of Professional Learning Communities to the Jackson community. Approximately 29 Western teachers and administrators and six SOE faculty attended a 3-day conference in Columbus, Ohio. All six SAU faculty conculted with teachers and principals in the Western School District.
- Spring Arbor's EDU 100 students have gone to Warner and Parma once a week for an hour to work with elementary students while teachers met to collaborate about learning, assessment and intervention. EDU 271 students have gone to the Western alternative school to do the same.
- In 2007, through a Hurst Foundation grant, the SOE formed a partnership with the Michigan Dyslexia Institute (MDI) to provide training in the Orton-Gillingham approach to teaching reading.
- Dr. Kathryn Bell led the MDE Title IIA Teacher Quality Professional Development Initiative Grant – Improving Teacher Expertise & Student Achievement in Writing. The grant has provided wonderful opportunities for SAU outreach in the Jackson area and schools, as well as enhancing the professional understandings and practices of the teachers who are participating.
- Donna Bergman's reading intervention class teamed up with Michigan Center’s Elementary School students in a “pilot” after-school reading program.
- Five SOE faculty and staff members (and several students) attended JCC’s African American Male Summit, to show support and to enter into discussion with other members of the community about helping black males in Jackson to overcome certain barriers such as family, education and the penal system.
- Reuben Rubio and Marci Stanley participated in the Jackson Community Big Read program where they organized several book discussions on campus and the documentary event at the Jackson Michigan Theater - “Justice for My People: The Dr. Hector P. Garcia Story.”
- Dr. Miriam Sailors and the SAU Chapter of Epsilon Chi adopted second graders at Jackson Cascades Elementary School. The SAU students initiated a pen pal program to be used as a literacy tool for the second-graders to practice their reading and writing skills.
- SAU faculty spoke at over 30 churches and non-profit organizations in 2007-08.
- Jack Esterline participated on Lumen Christi accreditation team.
SAU contributes $125 million of annual economic impact to Jackson County
- SAU students spend over $660,000 in local businesses during an academic year.
- Each year, more than 30,000 people attend games or events in the SAU athletic facilities.
- We have over 3,600 alumni in Jackson county. Over 3,900 alumni when PEP alums are included.
- The University has over 600 full-time or part-time employees and adjunct faculty throughout the state of Michigan.
- The annual operating budget of Spring Arbor University is $50 million, which includes over $9.4 million in grants and scholarships to more than 92 percent of our students.
- SAU students volunteer near 11,000 hours each school year – a monetary value of $77,000 ($7 per hour).
- Gainey School of Business
- Management and Marketing students are working with local businesses in a variety of capacities.
- SIFE is working with InterFaith Shelter, Junior Achievement, and area high schools.
- A Business Advisory Board made up of local business executives works with SIFE members.
- SIFE offers Financial Planning Workshops on campus for anyone who is interested.
- Financial aid outreach: Initiated and manages the College Goal Sunday in which approximately a dozen financial aid workshops are conducted at various high schools each year.
- Financial aid program: Jackson Legacy Match (dollar for dollar up to $3000 annually).
- Traditional undergraduate enrollment from Jackson County: 35-45 freshmen students per year and another two dozen transfer students, as well.
- Hosts a local college fair, which features over 50 Christian colleges from across the nation.
- SAU was awarded $40,000 for 2008 to again partner with Western School District with The Reading Writing Connection as an additional partner. This partnership’s common purpose is to lead a collaborative educational reform initiative that equips educators to create a culture of persistent intervention resulting in enhanced learning for all.