Mission

Connect the SVSU campus with surrounding communities to create partnerships and opportunities for social, economic, and professional development.

Serve the needs of non-profit, for-profit, and municipal clients through a collaborative, interdisciplinary research and design team that functions like a consulting firm.

Vision

To become a recognized higher education world leader in interdisciplinary community engagement. To improve the lives of our students, our clients, and the community.

To be renowned for our innovative teaching that prepares our students for their careers, our experiential engagement with the community, and the solutions we provide our clients.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Cardinal Solutions projects often bring together students from multiple academic disciplines. While many projects originate within the Art Department’s graphic design program, successful solutions frequently require collaboration across fields such as business, marketing, communications, and data analysis. This interdisciplinary approach reflects the reality of professional environments, where complex challenges require teams with diverse expertise working toward a shared objective.

Community Engagement and Opportunity

Cardinal Solutions works to support organizations and communities throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region, including the city of Saginaw. Many of our projects assist nonprofits that strengthen opportunity, access, and quality of life for individuals and families across the region.

Cardinal Solutions is committed to enriching academic experiences by connecting students with community partners and organizations serving a wide range of populations. Through these collaborations, students gain practical experience while contributing to initiatives that support community well-being and opportunity.

Cardinal Solutions professors and students recognize the importance of working respectfully and collaboratively with the diverse communities that make up the Great Lakes Bay Region. By connecting the SVSU campus with surrounding organizations, the program helps create partnerships that support social, economic, and professional development for both students and community partners.

A Model for Experiential Learning

Cardinal Solutions demonstrates how experiential learning can be integrated into university coursework through structured client partnerships. By combining faculty mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community engagement, the program creates opportunities for students to apply academic knowledge in practical settings.

This model allows universities to connect student learning with community impact while preparing graduates with the experience and professional confidence expected in today’s workforce.

Faculty Leadership and Mentorship

Cardinal Solutions operates under faculty leadership to ensure that projects maintain academic rigor while meeting professional expectations. Faculty mentors guide students through each stage of the project process, from research and concept development to client communication and final delivery.

This structure ensures that projects function as both learning experiences and professional engagements, providing students with direct mentorship while producing high-quality work for community partners. ■