October 24, 2019 - LANSING, Mich. — Students living in Huron and Tuscola counties soon will have more access to college coursework thanks to a $9,000 Innovative Program Grant awarded to Mid Michigan College by the Michigan College Access Network (MCAN).
Using streaming technology, Mid Michigan College will expand its outreach by serving students where there is a lack of college coursework options. The goal of the initiative is to bring higher education opportunities to rural communities.
“We would like to pilot a streaming solution that facilitates one-on-one academic advising, student services and supplemental academic support,” said Scott Mertes, vice president of community outreach and advancement at Mid Michigan College. “Low-income students may especially benefit because the streaming technology solutions will be implemented throughout the community, which may help to ease transportation issues that rural students often face.”
“This initiative aligns with our goal of ‘Sixty by 30’ and increases college access in Michigan’s rural areas, where there is a lack of higher education offerings,” said Ryan Fewins-Bliss, executive director of MCAN. “We are looking forward to seeing how interactive technology can play a role in enrolling and supporting students in college.”
MCAN’s Innovative Program Grants are designed to fund programming that increases college readiness, enrollment and completion in communities across the state. Since these grants were introduced in 2016, MCAN has awarded more than $335,000 in 34 different Innovative Program Grants to organizations throughout Michigan.
ABOUT MICHIGAN COLLEGE ACCESS NETWORK (MCAN)
As the leader in the state’s college access movement, MCAN has a mission to increase Michigan’s college readiness, participation and completion rates, particularly among low-income students, first-generation college-going students and students of color. For the eighth year in a row, Michigan’s postsecondary educational attainment rate has increased — from 35.7% of 25-to-64-year-olds possessing at least an associate degree in 2008, to 41% in 2018. Additionally, it is estimated another 4% of Michiganders have a postsecondary certificate, bringing Michigan’s official 2019 attainment rate to 45%. MCAN’s goal is to increase Michigan’s postsecondary educational attainment rate to 60% by 2030.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- Media Contact: Christopher Tremblay
- Email: christopher@micollegeaccess.org
- Cell: 814-504-5650
Grant will support the launch and use of streaming technology in rural Michigan.