St. Clair County Community College is stepping up to keep the state of Michigan’s scholarship promise to SC4 students.

During its regular meeting Thursday, Nov. 19, the SC4 Board of Trustees approved awarding one-time scholarships from the college to SC4 students who were recipients of the state’s now-canceled Michigan Promise Scholarship program.

The state cut funding for the scholarships because of budget constraints.

SC4 has about 375 students who each were depending on as much as $1,000 in promise money to pay for their college education for the 2009-10 academic year.

SC4 President Dr. Kevin A. Pollock proposed the special scholarship idea.

“With the severe financial constraints many of our students are facing, this is entirely the right thing to do,” Pollock said. “The community has placed its trust in us, and this is an opportunity to reward that trust by helping our students.

“That doesn’t mean an unexpected $375,000 expense is an easy proposition for SC4, especially as we look ahead to the expected budget crisis in 2010-11. We are anticipating drastic cuts in state funding and a significant decrease in local millage revenue because of declining property values.”

The scholarships approved by the SC4 Board of Trustees will be paid from the college’s 2009-10 general fund budget and/or general fund reserves, as needed.

Pollock said that SC4 faculty and staff have been making tough decisions to freeze certain budget items this year and trustees have reserved money the college had saved but didn’t need as part of a tax settlement with DTE Energy. That money would help to make up for some of the funding decreases in future years.

“I’m proud that we are able to provide this money for students who were expecting promise scholarships,” Pollock said. “Our trustees, faculty and staff are dedicated to doing what’s best for our students.”