GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine and Grand Valley State University are forming a new premedical/medical education program by which Grand Rapids Community College students transferring as undergraduate premedical students to GVSU will have the opportunity to be granted early assurance to the MSU medical school.
The early assurance program became official today at a ceremony at Grand Rapids Community College. GRCC Provost Gilda Gely, GVSU Provost Gayle R. Davis, MSU Provost Kim Wilcox and Marsha D. Rappley, dean of MSU’s College of Human Medicine, took part in the signing ceremony.
The program will provide an enhanced opportunity for admission to medical school for GRCC students transferring to GVSU as premedical students who are interested in serving underserved populations. The students will receive academic advising directed at admission to the College of Human Medicine and will be enrolled in a program of clinical and service experiences in preparation for admission.
Under the agreement, MSU is increasing the number of seats it reserves at the medical school for GVSU from five seats to six seats to include an opportunity for GRCC students. According to College of Human Medicine administrators, in fall 2011 they received more than 6,250 applicants for the 200 seats available for first-year students.
In addition to GRCC and GVSU, 11 other colleges and universities participate with early assurance agreements; GRCC is the first community college to do so.
Preference for admission will be given to those former GRCC students who now apply as a GVSU student and may not otherwise be familiar with what goes into preparing for premedical and medical school application processes. The students must also meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Are a first generation college student.
- Graduate from a low-income high school as defined by the U.S. Dept. of Education.
- Are eligible for or a recipient of an undergraduate Pell Grant or institutional need-based grant.
- Graduate from an underserved (health professional shortage) urban or rural area.
- Demonstrate interest in a high need medical specialty area.
Academic affairs and admissions officials from the three institutions have been working on implementing the program by aligning advising and curriculums. GRCC has identified 470 “pre-med” students in the past two years.
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