Dear LSSU Alums,
As I reflect on the progress we have made as an institution over these past few months, I can’t help but be excited by the promising prospects that lay before us. First of all, I am excited at the prospect of working with Dr. David Travis as LSSU President, and along with all of the campus community, I look forward to him joining us here at LSSU. He will start on June 3, and I know you will all do your part to welcome him with me.
We have a new MBA program launching in the fall. In January, we received approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer the new Master of Business Administration degree. We are proud of this program, which affords working professionals the opportunity to earn a graduate degree online in just two years. The program will be delivered sequentially, one course at a time in 8-week sessions, enabling students to focus on just one course. This approach helps students build skills and understanding for both the informational content and the applicable skills that are crucial for success in upper-level management positions. Students will benefit from a flexible, supportive, and affordable learning environment that allows them as working professionals to balance education with personal and professional responsibilities. They will build teamwork, collaborative, and leadership skills as they participate in simulated real-world business activities, and they will build professional connections through networking opportunities and comprehensive support services. Additionally, the program incorporates a theme of project management, ending in a large-scale capstone business simulation project. Students will also have the opportunity to earn their project management certification from a leading globally recognized firm. Enrollment is already underway for fall and each annual cohort group is limited in size, so I encourage interested individuals to reach out right away to find out more ([email protected]; https://www.lssu.edu/mba/).
Also high on my list of exciting things to come, and in keeping with LSSU’s mission and vision to provide “an innovation-driven, transformative education for all,” we responded to the recent change in Federal law that permits incarcerated students to pay for their education with Pell Grants by developing a new Prison Education Program for inmates at Chippewa Correctional Facility in Kinross. We learned that incarcerated individuals that participate in educational programming are 48% less likely to return to prison within three years than those that do not participate. This fall, we plan to offer inmates the opportunity to complete an Associate’s degree in Small Business Administration, which will give them the training they need to start and run their own business enterprise or to seek a position in a business in their home communities. Although we are still waiting on final approval of the program from HLC and the Department of Education, we hope to enroll a cohort of 20 students in the first year and graduate those students with their degree in just two years. I want to thank the team of staff and faculty who worked closely with the Michigan Department of Corrections and the staff at Chippewa Correctional Facility to develop this program, and we look forward to this opportunity to transform the lives and futures of the inmates we will serve.
I am immensely proud of our men’s basketball program for their extraordinary achievements this season. They ended the season in a thrilling NCAA tournament run to the Sweet 16, which captivated the campus community and brought honor to our institution on a national stage. Through their dedication, perseverance, and commitment to excellence, our student-athletes, led by Coach Steve Hettinga, have embodied the spirit of teamwork, serving as exemplary ambassadors for LSSU. Their success not only reflects the talent and hard work of our basketball program, but also underscores the values of scholarship, leadership, and integrity that define our university. On behalf of the entire university community, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to our men’s basketball team and express our deepest gratitude for their historic representation of our university. Go Lakers!
Yet another exciting program developed this past year is the fall 2024 launch of the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity. This innovative program provides students with a unique combination of skills in criminal justice, computer science and computer networking, underscoring methods to shield against cyberattacks, facilitate data recovery, and provide essential information crucial for the investigation and prosecution of cybercrime offenders. Like so many other LSSU programs, this one focuses on hands-on skill development and practical application to ensure that our graduating students are career-ready upon graduation.
The activities of our Robotics program over the past year have been exciting to watch as well. For example, faculty and staff of the program hosted a FIRST Robotics Event March 14-16, and it was a resounding success. With 40 high school teams in attendance, the campus buzzed with energy as students showcased their talents and teamwork in a thrilling robotics showdown, made possible by the generous support of donors and the unwavering dedication of teams, faculty, staff, students, parents, and mentors. Exclusive access to LSSU’s cutting-edge Robotics Lab provided participants with insights into the latest technologies and groundbreaking research happening at the university, further enriching each student’s experience. Participants and their families were also able to view the newest additions to the Robotics Lab, Doosan M1013 Collaborative Robots, generously donated by Dynamic Machine of Detroit.
One of the hallmarks of Lake Superior State University is undergraduate research. On April 19 we held the annual Senior Research Symposium. There was a total of 136 students who showcased their research from a variety of fields. I am always impressed by the quality of our student’s work. Also, earlier that day the MyMichigan/LSSU Superior Simulation Center held its annual Interprofessional Healthcare Simulation event where Nursing, Emergency Service, Fire Science, and Criminal Justice students worked together with local and county first responders to showcase their knowledge and work together in a simulation emergency. The “victims” in the simulation were LSSU students. Our students trained alongside first responders from Sault Ste. Marie Fire Department, EMS, and nurses from MyMichigan Medical Sault. The Mackinac County 911 coordinator and Chippewa County Center Dispatch director were on the scene as well.
We held a beautiful Commencement on May 4 in the Taffy Abel Arena, where 347 students graduated. Commencement is always an exciting time for our students and their families. We were honored to have Claude H. (Bud) Denker III as our commencement speaker. Bud graduated from LSSU in 1980, and he has had an extraordinary career. He is currently President of Penske Corporation. To acknowledge his many achievements we presented Bud with an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration.
Looking back over the many great events and achievements of this past year at LSSU, I am deeply grateful to the faculty and staff who have played such an essential role to make those achievements so successful. I want to extend my personal thanks and well wishes to all of you for your continued support of LSSU, and for making it possible for all of us to equip our students for successful careers, to help them find good jobs, and to help ensure they will enjoy a productive and satisfying future.
Dr. Lynn G. Gillette
Interim President
LSSU Alumni Insurance Program
Did you know that the LSSU Alumni Association sponsors an Alumni Insurance Program as a service to our graduates? The program offers a variety of attractively priced insurance products, most of which are available to alumni, students, faculty and staff, as well as their spouses, domestic partners, parents, children, and siblings.
Life Insurance
Long-term protection with great rates and fantastic features. Coverage is available from $10,000 to $50 million.
Travel Insurance
Travel Medical and Trip Protection coverage is available for individuals or groups, for personal or business travel.
Long Term Care Insurance
Protect your assets from serious erosion while allowing access to quality care in the most appropriate and desirable setting.
Pet Insurance
Simple, customizable dog and cat insurance plans are available.
Special Event Insurance
Liability coverage up to $2 million is available for events lasting from a few hours to as much as 10 days.
Dental Insurance
COMING SOON Family dental coverage that provides a national network of dentists, online enrollment, and travels with you to any employer
ID Theft Protection
NEW! Protect yourself and your family against identity theft with a comprehensive solution you can count on.
Small Business Insurance
NEW! We offer an all-in-one simple solution that includes a selection of plans, employee enrollment, and ongoing administration.
Advisory Services
A licensed insurance professional is available, at no charge, to answer questions and provide customized guidance.
For more information visit Meyer and Associates or contact our Meyer and Associates program administrator at 1(800) 635-7801.