Schoolcraft president, Dr. Glenn Cerny is dedicated to the students he serves. He ensures that our campus is preparing students for the workforce, whether that be through experiential learning opportunities, access to resources or connections to potential employers.

That is why it comes as no surprise that Cerny has received the Phi Theta Kappa Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction.

This award is given to Community College Presidents around the country in recognition of their dedication to students’ success and leadership, allowing students to complete their time at the college and transfer to a four year or seek employment. Presidents of the college
are nominated by students in the PTK program of that school, so these awards are a reflection of the impact that students are seeing on their campus.

Cerny prides himself in making the Schoolcraft campus a welcoming and open environment, pushing for students to have the best opportunities during their time here and when they continue to their next pursuit.

There have been several programs that Cerny has initiated during his nearly 6 year long presidency. Partnering with TrinityElite, Masco Corporation and, newly, Nino Salvaggio, he strives to bring opportunities to students through collaborations with local corporations.

By partnering with TrinityElite, it helped boost Schoolcraft’s nursing program as well as help create bridges into the workforce for students. Masco corporation helped fund The Masco Student Success Fund, which helps with the Hinkle Center on campus. Lastly, Nino
Salvaggio allows for students to learn in the environment they are planning to work in as well as being able to make connections with professionals in the industry.

Every time he speaks about student success, Cerny lights up. His goal with Schoolcraft is to make sure each student has the ability to succeed in their own way.

“I want your experience to be yours, that you’re not funneled into a chute,” said Cerny.

The path to success is different for every student. He prides himself on making opportunities, as mentioned above, for each pathway that students have.

This is reflected in the multiple expansions that he has started around campus. He plans to continue to create more bridges for students from all programs to allow students as many opportunities as possible.

“We have connections. […] It’s important for me to network, get to know people in the business area and then promote them,” said Cerny.

One of Cerny’s main goals is to open as many doors as possible by making connections and bringing those opportunities to the students. Cerny wants to ensure that every student has the ability to achieve their goals when coming to Schoolcraft, not just making sure they keep
coming to school and graduate.

“I’m focused on the student. I want to make sure that students have what they want to achieve, their goal, and that they’ve been able to utilize the services that we have, and that’s key. That’s the biggest challenge we have, is getting services to the students in the way that they can use them.” said Cerny.

He strives everyday to remove barriers and build the student body, caring for every student,
no matter the path, that comes into Schoolcraft’s care.

He encourages potential students to go to community college, even if it’s not Schoolcraft. He explains that it is a great opportunity even if there is stigma around it. Cerny also encourages students and alumni of Schoolcraft and other community colleges to spread the word about
how beneficial community colleges can be. He explains that community colleges were for the working class Americans, allowing them to receive an education, get a good paying job and start a family, despite potentially not having the wealth to go to a four year college. They
were seen as a good way to get an education.

However, in the 1970s, there was an oil embargo which put financial strain on the country and thus impacting funding to community colleges. Now it was no longer seen as a good education and counselors in high school would push for students to go straight to a four year. While that stigma is being lessened as time moves on and people open up to the idea of community college education again, it still causes some people to disregard the idea of community college all together. For younger students to start feeling comfortable going to a community college, it is the job of people attending or have attended community college to spread the word about the benefits.

Cerny is extremely dedicated to his students, focusing on how he can make the Schoolcraft experience the best it can be for every student. This is reflected in the nomination and winning of this award, not just showing acceptance for his outstanding work in the community college sphere but also with the students he is striving to help everyday. Schoolcraft will continue to thrive under the careful guidance of Cerny, with future collaborations and connections being extremely important for the future students of the college.