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Quick facts

  • Nov. 13, 1963 State grants a charter for Saginaw Valley College
  • March 23, 1964 Sam Marble is SVC's first president
  • Sept. 8, 1964 The first SVC class from Delta College enroll as juniors at SVC
  • July 22, 1965 SVC becomes a state-supported institution. The college is briefly named Saginaw Bay State College (until March 28, 1966)
  • April 17, 1966 First commencement (10 students)
  • Jan. 3, 1967 SVC moves from the basement of Delta College to its current site.
  • 1969 Wickes Hall, Doan Center, a theater, and SVC's first dormitory are constructed.
  • 1970 The Cardinal is chosen as the SVC mascot
  • Nov. 1971 Cardinal Gymnasium is completed
  • Fall 1972 SVC joins the GLIAC conference
  • Jan. 14, 1974 Sam Marble steps down as SVC's 1st president.  William Capitan serves as acting president.
  • Oct. 17 1974 Jack Ryder is hired as SVC's 2nd president.
  • Jan. 1975 SVC's name is changed to Saginaw Valley State College.
  • Winter 1978 Pioneer Hall is opened for classes.
  • April 24 1985 Wickes Annex fire burns a cluster of 9 buildings
  • Jan. 13, 1987 Marshall Fredericks gallery and Arbury Fine Arts Building are opened.
  • Nov. 1987 SVSC is renamed Saginaw Valley State University
  • May 15 1988 Arbury Fine Arts Building opens
  • 1989 Jack Ryder steps down as President.
  • Nov. 1989 Eric Gilbertson becomes SVSU's 3rd president
  • Sept. 14 1991 R Wickes Stadium is dedicated, replacing the Cardinal Stadium.
  • Nov. 1993 SVSU computer network is installed and is fully operational.
  • April 16 1997 Curtiss Hall is dedicated
  • May 16 1997 Groening Commons is dedicated
  • Oct. 17 1998 Julia Edwards Bell Tower is dedicated
  • Aug 1999 1st Living Center is completed
  • Fall 2001 Herbert Dow Doan Science Building opens
  • 2003 Student Center, Fitness Center, and College of Education open.  Additions to the Living Center and Zahnow Library are completed.
For questions or problems, please contact Beth Johns. or Matthew Anderson.