SVSU History: Home

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.