Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) out of Charlotte, North Carolina is the fifth Historically Black College or University (HBCU) that Grand Valley State University (GVSU) has partnered with since starting an HBCU Consortium in 2021.
JCSU offers bachelor's degree programs in computer engineering, mathematics and public health, in addition to a minor in sports medicine. This week's agreement provides opportunities for qualified students to earn GVSU master's degrees in engineering or athletic training, beginning in the Fall 2023 semester.
GVSU President Philomena V. Mantella said students from JCSU will enrich Grand Valley's campus and add strong and diverse talent to the West Michigan workforce.
"Partnerships like this are how higher education works best. We are collaborating, not competing, with one another and share a common goal: to help students succeed," Mantella said. "I'm very grateful to the teams who worked on this agreement and am excited to partner with Johnson C. Smith University."
JCSU students will receive in-state tuition rates, financial aid and other GVSU resources to support their journey. This includes co-op and internship experiences at West Michigan employers.
JCSU President Clarence Armbrister said: “For 156 years, Johnson C. Smith University has been a leader in providing education to underserved communities. We are grateful that we aren’t doing it alone. We want to make sure our students have a seamless pathway when they leave JCSU, and our announcement today is that this agreement will provide a guided pathway for JCSU and GVSU."
GVSU said the connection between the two institutions was a JCSU alumnus who lives in Grand Rapids. Lorenzo Bradshaw, principal of Brookwood Elementary in Kentwood, heard about the HBCU/Hispanic Serving Institution Consortium and sent information to his connections at the North Carolina university.
