Saginaw Valley State University Saginaw Valley State University ( SVSU ) is a state university in the U . S . state of Michigan . Originally founded in 1963 as Saginaw Valley College , it is located in the middle of Michigan ' s lower peninsula in Kochville Township , Saginaw County . However , its official address places it in University Center , Michigan , which it shares with Delta College ( which is to the north - northwest , in Bay County ' s Frankenlust Township ) . It is the youngest of Michigan ' s 15 public colleges and universities . History . Higher education in the Saginaw Valley region dates back to the founding of Bay City Junior College in 1922 . Though the junior college was replaced by Delta College in 1961 , the area still lacked a four - year baccalaureate institution . Saginaw Valley College was founded as a private institution in November 1963 , and became a state - supported institution in 1965 . The name changed to Saginaw Valley State College in 1974 and again to Saginaw Valley State University in 1987 . Saginaw Valley College received full accreditation by the North Central Association in April 1970 . The name changed to Saginaw Valley State College in 1974 . That same year , Samuel D . Marble , the college ' s president who had also served in that role at Delta College , submitted his resignation . Marble had also served as president of Wilmington College in Ohio . He would be named president emeritus and is honored with a lecture hall named in his honor in Wickes Hall . In November 1974 , Jack M . Ryder became president of the college . In 1980 the Higher Learning Commission / North Central Association continued this accreditation and granted accreditation at the master ’ s degree level . Both accreditations have been retained continuously since the original accreditation . The college became home to the works of the noted sculptor Marshall M . Fredericks in June 1987 . In November , SVSC became Saginaw Valley State University . Ryder resigned as president in 1989 and Eric R . Gilbertson succeeded him . Academic Colleges . College of Arts and Behavioral Sciences . The College of Arts and Behavioral Sciences is the oldest of the university ' s five colleges . Joni Boye - Beaman is the dean of the college . The James V . Finkbeiner Endowed Chair of Ethics is held by Francis C . Dane . The most diverse academic unit of the university , the college offers undergraduate majors in applied studies , art , communication , creative writing , criminal justice , English , French , graphic design , history , international studies , modern foreign language , music , political science , psychology , public administration , rhetoric and professional writing , sociology , Spanish , and theatre . Minors are available in all of the major programs , as well as gender studies , geography , German , philosophy , and Polish . In addition to the number of undergraduate programs , graduate programs are offered in administrative science , and communication and digital media . College of Business and Management . The College of Business and Management is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business ( AACSB ) , the premier standard of achievement for business schools . Less than 5 % of all schools of business worldwide are AACSB accredited . The dean of the college is Jill L . Wetmore . The Harvey Randall Wickes Endowed Chair in International Business is Joseph Ofori - Dankwa . Undergraduate majors are offered in accounting , economics , finance , general business , international business , marketing , and management . Minors are offered in economics , entrepreneurship , finance , general business , legal studies , management , and marketing , as well as certificates in entrepreneurship and international business . An M . B . A . programs is offered at the graduate level . Crystal M . Lange College of Health and Human Services . Named for Crystal M . Lange , the founder of the College of Nursing who served as its dean for 20 years , the College of Health and Human Services offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in health science , kinesiology , nursing , occupational therapy , and social work . The university ' s Board of Control approved a doctor of nursing practice program in December 2011 . Judith P . Ruland is the dean of the college . College of Science , Engineering and Technology . The College of Science , Engineering and Technology offers majors in biology , chemistry ( including biochemistry , business chemistry , and chemical physics ) , computer science and information systems , electrical engineering , mathematical sciences , mechanical engineering , physics , and optical physics . Deborah R . Huntley is the dean of the college . Campus . Academic Buildings . Wickes Hall is named for Harvey Randall Wickes , and is the main administrative center on campus . Brown Hall is named for Maurice E . Brown . It houses faculty offices and classrooms . The Zahnow Library is named for Melvin J . Zahnow . It houses over 200 , 000 print volumes and over 400 , 000 non - print items . The Arbury Fine Arts Center is named for Ned and Dorothy Arbury . It houses classrooms and other facilities for the fine arts , including the Marshall M . Fredericks Sculpture Museum . The Herbert Dow Doan Science Building is named for Herbert Dow Doan , and houses classrooms , faculty offices , teaching labs and research labs , as well as an on - campus Starbucks . Curtiss Hall is named for Charles B . Curtiss , a long - time member of the Board of Control . Groening Commons , the large atrium inside Curtiss Hall , is named for William A . Groening . Pioneer Hall , the home of the College of Science , Engineering and Technology , was completed in 1978 and recently underwent a large renovation . It is " certified green " by the U . S . Green Building Council , the first building in mid - Michigan to be so recognized . The Regional Education Center is home to the College of Education . The Health and Human Services Building is home to the College of Health and Human Services . The building incorporates the largest aqua - thermal heating / cooling system in the state of Michigan to reduce energy costs by over 35 % . The Doan Center houses the Marketplace at Doan , the main dining hall , and other student - related activities . It is named for Leland I . Doan . The Ryder Center is the main athletic building on campus and also houses classrooms . It is named for Jack McBride Ryder . Other Buildings . The Covenant MedExpress is a $ 2 . 6 million clinic open to SVSU students and the public . It is part of a partnership with Covenant Healthcare and has X - ray and lab facilities . Residence Halls . 3 - D PDF map of the SVSU campus Administration . The governing authority of the university is the Board of Control , established by the Michigan Constitution and by statute consisting of eight members appointed by the Governor of Michigan for eight - year terms . The university is considered a political subdivision of the state government and , thus , is exempt from federal income tax . The president of the university is elected by the Board of Control , to whom the Board delegates the authority to conduct university business except certain items specified in the Board ' s bylaws . The president is " ex officio " a non - voting member of the Board . The president has a staff consisting of the four vice presidents ; the deans of the colleges ; the Executive Director of Information Technology ; the Special Assistant to the President for Diversity Programs ; the Special Assistant to the President for International Programs ; the Special Assistant to the President for Government Relations ; the Executive Assistant to the President / Planning Officer ; the University Ombudsman ; and the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs . Financial . 2004 data puts the General Fund at $ 67 million . The sources include : state appropriations ( 42 % , or $ 28 . 1 million ) , tuition & fees ( 55 . 2 % , or $ 36 . 8 million ) and " other sources " ( 2 . 8 % , or $ 1 . 9 million ) . SVSU ' s 2004 ' self study ' ( link is broken ) provides detail concerning the university ' s financials and other miscellaneous information . The 2004 budget includes a cut of $ 1 . 3 million from the 2003 budget . Attempts have been made to avoid future budget cuts by means of raising tuition costs . This has sparked controversy , as SVSU has always prided itself on being a university with a very high quality / cost ratio ; i . e . the quality of education has ostensibly and historically been more than commensurate with the price of attending the university . The university ' s mission statement reflects this belief . As of Winter 2010 , per credit hour charges for in - state students is $ 229 . 00 . Out of state and non - resident aliens pay $ 557 . 30 per hour . Athletics . The Saginaw Valley State University fields 16 varsity teams at The NCAA Division II level as members of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference ( GLIAC ) . The Cardinals compete in the following sports : Men ' s Women ' s The Junior Varsity football program dates to 1974 ; the Varsity football started in 1975 , as did the marching band . The school song is " Cardinal Fight " , written by Thomas Root . Championships . National Championships : National Runners - up : Basketball Final Four : Notable alumni . Famous graduates of SVSU include the following :