News
MCAN shares the latest data, research, and resources from the field so that educators, leaders, and partners are empowered with knowledge that is relevant to their work.
News
Press Releases
High School Innovation
Steelcase Foundation awards $160,000 grant to MCAN to boost college attainment in West Michigan
July 7, 2026
MCAN is proud to announce it has received a two-year, $160,000 grant from the Steelcase Foundation to fund the Kent County Attainment Accelerator, a place-based initiative designed to expand and strengthen college access and success efforts already underway across the region.
All Areas of Work
MCAN applauds continued commitment to education in fiscal year 2027 state budget
July 3, 2026
Earlier today, the Michigan legislature passed its fiscal year 2027 budget bills, which the governor is expected to sign. Michigan College Access Network is excited to see increased funding for K-12 and higher education, continuing vital investments in our students.
Adult Student Attainment
Michigan Consortium for Higher Education in Prison announces Jeff Abernathy as founding president
May 27, 2026
The Michigan Consortium for Higher Education in Prison (MiCHEP) has appointed Jeff Abernathy as the organization’s founding president. MiCHEP is a statewide consortium of Michigan colleges and universities devoted to expanding and improving higher education for incarcerated students through collaboration, shared best practices, and policy leadership. The consortium partners with the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) to strengthen educational quality and access across prison learning sites statewide.
Blogs
All Areas of Work
15 Years Forward: When Policy Meets Purpose | Michele Strasz
April 23, 2026
As director of the Capital Area College Access Network (CapCAN) and a leader at United Way South Central Michigan, Michele has spent her career at the intersection of community impact and public policy. As we reflect on 15 years of postsecondary progress through the lens of policy, Michele's story is exactly the one we want to tell.
All Areas of Work
Q&A with Ryan Fewins-Bliss: 15 Years of Policy & Progress
April 15, 2026
As MCAN celebrates its 15th anniversary, we sat down with Ryan to talk about policy — the wins, the work, and what it takes to move a state.
Higher Education Innovation
Rewriting the Story of College Access: How Equitable Opportunities Change Trajectories
March 4, 2026
For students who have long faced systemic barriers, these ripple effects don’t happen by chance. They happen when systems are intentionally redesigned to expand opportunity — not restrict it.
In the News
Higher Education Innovation
Universities, colleges pan ‘one-time’ 1% operational increases
July 9, 2026
Gongwer
Organizations representing the state’s public universities and community colleges were disappointed in the 1% operational increases the higher education institutions received in the 2026-27 fiscal year budget passed last week.
High School Innovation
As scores dip, Michigan law takes effect dropping essay from standardized test
July 8, 2026
Bridge Michigan
Incoming 11th graders no longer have to take the essay portion of the SAT, which advocates say will ease nerves, eliminate unnecessary testing and provide more instruction time.
Higher Education Innovation
New student loan rules take effect, changing payments and borrowing limits
July 7, 2026
WXYZ Detroit
New rules involving student loans took effect this month, changing borrowers' monthly payments and how much students can borrow in the future. The sweeping changes are part of President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" and are expected to impact millions of Americans. Student debt in the U.S. has reached nearly $1.7 trillion.