News
GVSU and UM-Flint sign MoU to launch joint graduate pathways in computing
April 11, 2025
On Friday, April 11, Grand Valley State University's College of Computing and the University of Michigan-Flint's (UM-Flint) College of Innovation and Technology (CIT) formalized their commitment to collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on GVSU’s health campus.
The agreement was signed by GVSU’s Acting Provost, Dr. Jennifer Drake; Dean of the CIT at UM-Flint, Dr. Christopher Pearson; and Dean of the College of Computing at GVSU, Dr. Marouane Kessentini.
The MoU paves the way for a unique academic partnership that will allow select students from GVSU’s College of Computing to pursue both a master’s degree from GVSU and a Ph.D. in Computing from UM-Flint’s CIT. Under the agreement, students admitted to the Ph.D. program who have already earned a computing master’s degree from GVSU will be required to complete at least 8 credits of content coursework and a minimum of 25 credits of research coursework through UM-Flint’s CIT.
To further enhance collaboration, the agreement also enables GVSU’s College of Computing faculty members to serve as dissertation advisors. The collaboration encourages a o-advising model with one advisor from each institution guiding the students’ research journey, providing a rich, cross-institutional mentorship.
The agreement follows an initial meeting held on February 5, 2025, where faculty from both institutions gathered to explore potential avenues for academic collaboration. During the April 11 event, about twenty faculty from both institutions connected over lunch and shared their current research interests.
Approximately 50 students from GVSU attended the event, many expressing interest in pursuing graduate education and engaging in cross-institutional research initiatives.
“This partnership brings together two forward-thinking institutions with a shared commitment to innovation, access, and excellence in computing education,” said Dean Kessentini. “By working together, we can provide our students and faculty with even greater opportunities to thrive and lead in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.”
Dean Pearson echoed the sentiment: “We’re excited to build meaningful connections with GVSU that will allow us to leverage our combined strengths and enhance learning experiences for students at both campuses.”
The signing marks the beginning of a long-term partnership that will promote regional collaboration, academic excellence, and innovation in technology education across Michigan.
Written by Shelby Harrison.