News Articles
News Articles
All Areas of Work
LHS counselor honored with MCAN Passport Award
November 12, 2025
The County Press
Lapeer High School counselor Julie Pecore has been recognized for her efforts to prepare students for college and inspire their pursuits of postsecondary degrees.
Higher Education Innovation
Bay College hosts seniors as part of Michigan College Month
October 27, 2025
Daily Press
“As we celebrate College Month, we also want to recognize the incredible work of Michigan College Access Network,” Director of Admissions Jessica Beaver said. “MCAN provides valuable resources to students and families preparing for college from financial aid guidance to college planning tools, they help make higher education more accessible across the state of Michigan.”
All Areas of Work
LSSU to revamp gateway courses to boost student success
October 15, 2025
Soo Leader
Lake Superior State University (LSSU) has been selected as one of 14 Michigan institutions to participate in the inaugural Gateway Course Redesign Faculty Academy, an 18-month initiative by the Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) in collaboration with Almy Education and Sova.
All Areas of Work
State budget boosts K-12, college funding, but cuts some scholarships
October 5, 2025
Soo Leader
After months of difficult negotiation that nearly pushed the state into a government shutdown, the Michigan legislature and governor’s office were able to come together and pass a bipartisan fiscal year 2026 budget early this morning. Michigan College Access Network, along with our partners in K-12 and higher education, are digging through the budget bills, evaluating what they mean for Michigan’s students and families.
All Areas of Work
Financial aid, college funding hikes: How Michigan’s budget deal impacts higher education
October 3, 2025
MLive
The budget’s higher education plan, which marginally increases operational funds for all 15 of Michigan’s public universities and more than two dozen community colleges, may fall short of some priorities that industry leaders stumped for as state budget talks rolled on this fall.
All Areas of Work
Statewide push helps students prepare for college and beyond
September 28, 2025
Soo Leader
With application fees waived at many colleges, Michigan's annual College Month is providing critical support to thousands of high school seniors preparing for their next steps
All Areas of Work
Push to take SAT scores off Michigan students’ transcripts, abolish essay
September 17, 2025
Bridge Michigan
A renewed push is underway to stop requiring that scores from the state-administered SAT test appear on Michigan students’ high school transcripts.
All Areas of Work
Two EUP school counselors receive awards, funding for student programs
September 16, 2025
The Sault News
Jessica Tibbitts, counselor for Pickford Public Schools, and Susy Talentino, counselor for Sault’s Malcolm High School, were both recognized by the Michigan School Counselor Fellows Program for their efforts to help kids with the issues they face the most.
All Areas of Work
Life after high school? 6 things for Michigan parents to check off, make sure their senior succeeds
September 16, 2025
MLive
A student’s senior year of high school is sometimes their busiest. And part of that may have to do with getting ready for what comes next, whether they’re college-bound or readying to take direct career steps straight away.
All Areas of Work
Nearly 70% of Benzie County high school seniors file FAFSA
September 14, 2025
Manistee News Advocate
“Benzie County students were riding this wave along with the rest of Michigan,” the release said. “According to the Michigan FAFSA tracker, 69.79% of Benzie High School seniors completed the FAFSA as of Sept. 8, 2025. That figure is well above the state average and an overall 30% increase over last year.”
All Areas of Work
Michigan students return to college campuses amid threats to higher education nationwide
August 25, 2025
The Detroit News
"University presidents are paralyzed," Michigan College Access Network Executive Director Ryan Fewins-Bliss said. "They are now under attack at the federal and state level. ... Federally, things are shifting every day. They're exasperated."
All Areas of Work
An Opportunity for Every Student
August 22, 2025
MI SoundBoard Podcast
The Michigan College Access Network joins the podcast with its Executive Director, Ryan Fewins-Bliss, to discuss how the organization works to ensure all Michigan students understand the opportunities available to them for education beyond high school, as well as the current state of college graduates in the state.
All Areas of Work
Some Teachers Could Lose Out on Loan Forgiveness Under Trump Admin. Proposal
August 21, 2025
Education Week
Teachers and other school staff could lose out on thousands of dollars in student loan forgiveness if their districts engage in activities the Trump administration now considers illegal—including, potentially, certain supports for immigrants or transgender students in schools.
All Areas of Work
Trump administration's latest anti-DEI initiative has college access advocates worried
August 17, 2025
The Detroit News
Ryan Fewins-Bliss, executive director of Michigan College Access Network, said he worries that institutions "overcorrecting" and rolling back programs meant to serve specific groups of students will result in fewer students, especially students of color, attending college.
All Areas of Work
Michigan education leaders push for college access amid doubts from students
August 12, 2025
WCMU
At a recent media roundtable hosted by the Michigan College Access Network (MCAN), panelists said concerns about affordability, limited awareness of financial aid and unmet basic needs continue to block access to higher education, particularly for Black and Brown students, Indigenous students, immigrants and students with disabilities.
All Areas of Work
BEST Benzie uses grant to reduce 'summer melt'
August 4, 2025
The Benzie County Record Patriot
This year, thanks to a grant from the Michigan College Access Network, the Benzie County college-bound class of 2025 graduates have two college coaches available to help reduce summer melt.
All Areas of Work
Michigan Awards Nearly $1M to Students Through FAFSA Completion Initiative
July 29, 2025
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II joined state education leaders at Wayne State University to announce the winners, who received either $10,000 or $50,000 awards deposited into Michigan Education Savings Program accounts. The initiative, launched by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's administration in partnership with the Michigan College Access Network (MCAN), drew more than 21,000 entries from students who completed their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the first time.
All Areas of Work
A Michigan private college is closing. Why experts say others may not be far behind.
July 13, 2025
MLive
“What I’ve found when I’ve spoken to the presidents of those institutions (that have closed) and some of their trustees is that they have been privately struggling with this for years, have been doing everything they can to fight against it and had to finally give up the goat and say, ‘It’s time to close, we’re out of options,’” said Ryan Fewins-Bliss, executive director of Michigan College Access Network.