SVSU-Covenant tuition agreement aims to boost educational opportunities for Covenant employees

Beth Charlton, George Grant Jr, Jill Jarvis

Pictured (left to right): Beth Charlton, George Grant Jr and Jill Jarvis

In a move that builds on their longstanding collaboration, Saginaw Valley State University and Covenant HealthCare have forged a partnership aimed at providing higher education opportunities for the employees of Covenant HealthCare and bolstering the talent pool in the Great Lakes Bay Region and other communities Covenant serves.

Under this agreement Covenant employees who enroll in undergraduate, graduate or certification programs at SVSU may be eligible for a 30% reduction in tuition fees from SVSU and tuition reimbursement from Covenant HealthCare.

“Covenant and SVSU recognize the need for a well-prepared work force,” said George Grant Jr., president of SVSU. “By providing a special tuition rate, we hope to encourage Covenant employees to pursue educational opportunities so they can excel in their careers and elevate the quality of care offered by Covenant.”

Covenant HealthCare is one of the largest employers in the Great Lakes Bay Region, employing people in a wide range of disciplines, including nursing, social work, medical laboratory science, information technology, business, accounting and more. Many of these professions align with the state’s most in-demand careers as forecast by the State of Michigan. Through its undergraduate, graduate and certification programs, SVSU offers pathways to more than 35 of these “hot jobs.”

“We are pleased to partner with SVSU to make educational opportunities even more accessible to our employees,” said Beth Charlton, Covenant HealthCare president and CEO. “We believe offering more affordable access to educational opportunities enables employees to advance in their careers while balancing their work and personal commitments. Ultimately, our goal is continue meeting the medical needs of the community; delivering high quality care with an engaged team.”

By partnering with Covenant, the university expects to further strengthen its ties to the healthcare community, fostering a mutually beneficial relationship that supports the growth and prosperity of both institutions and enhances the caliber of patient care and services available to the region.

The tuition agreement goes into effect beginning with the fall 2023 term. Additional details about application procedures and tuition benefits will be made available to Covenant HealthCare employees through internal communication channels.