While Central Michigan University lays the groundwork for its planned medical school, Grand Valley State University is taking advantage of an agreement that will benefit its pre-medicine students.

The university in Allendale developed the Early Assurance Program with Michigan State University’s
College of Human Medicine, in which a group of six GVSU students will be admitted each year for the next three years.

Six juniors were selected this summer and will be enrolled into the program next year, which will consist of 200 total qualified students.

The two universities worked out the agreement one year ago. Preference was given to low-income and first generation college students who also wish to practice in underserved areas such as inner-cities, said Christine Shafer, assistant dean of admissions for the MSU College of Human Medicine.

Working with another university when it comes to admissions could prove beneficial in the long run, Shafer said.

“We’re looking to have partners in different communities,” she said. “We want to give students with an underprivileged background an opportunity for a medical school education.”

Three students will start the fall 2010 semester in East Lansing, while the other three will study in Grand Rapids.

CMU’s stance

CMU Trustee Sam Kottamasu said the university did not have plans to sign a similar agreement with another university’s medical school or college, prior to the announcement of the current project.

CMU does not plan to develop a program that would bring students to its medical school each year upon its completion.

“It’s too far out to make a prediction,” Kottamasu said. “It’s not a priority at this time.”

The agreement worked out well for GVSU, which does not have its own medical school, but is close by to what will be the newly expanded Grand Rapids center, said Jean Nagelkerk, GVSU vice provost for health.

Students had to complete coursework commonly associated with any pre-medicine program, such as science and math, she said. Students were guided through the application process, interviewed and eventually admitted by an MSU selection committee.

“There’s certain steps and activities they have to go through,” Nagelkerk said. “We do the initial screening, but MSU makes the final decisions.”

Shafer said both universities formed the agreement with the intent of making it yearly. However, an evaluation will be done after the third year to make sure the program is still worthwhile.

She said there also is a possibility MSU will pursue similar programs with other universities in the future.

“They are under serious discussion, and there is a good chance we will announce something this year,” Shafer said.

E-mail the author: Jake Bolitho