Lansing, Mich. — Earlier today, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive directive seeking to increase access to higher education for young men. The directive instructs the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) and the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) to take actions to put more young Michigan men on a path to earning college degrees and certificates that lead to high-wage jobs. Michigan College Access Network Executive Director Ryan Fewins-Bliss is proud to have been present at the directive signing, which was held at a College Promise convening at Oakland Community College. MCAN fully supports the governor’s directive and is ready to work with MiLEAP and LEO to improve college enrollment and completion rates among men in our state.
Women participating in Michigan Reconnect outnumber men by more than a 2:1 ratio. An analysis by Bridge Michigan estimated that 69% of women in Michigan enroll in college within a year of graduating high school, while just 56% of men do. In terms of total enrollment at our 15 public universities, Michigan’s gender breakdown is 54.6% women compared to 45.4% men. This has significant implications for the job market, where men who forgo college are less likely to land good jobs with family-sustaining wages. According to the Michigan Department of Data and Analytics’ Hot 50 Job Outlook, which tracks high-growth, high-wage opportunities in the state, 45 of Michigan’s Hot 50 jobs require some formal learning past high school, and 42 of the 50 require a bachelor’s degree or more.
Statement from MCAN Executive Director Ryan Fewins-Bliss:
“We appreciate the governor's use of data to identify populations that need more help in getting into and through college. Since day one, MCAN's mission has prioritized low-income students, students of color and first-generation college-going students, based on local and statewide data. We will continue to focus on these populations, but we will also heed the governor's call to improve college enrollment and attainment for male students. By creatively leveraging Michigan’s state-based financial aid with prioritized outreach and marketing, we can get more men onto college campuses, where they are drastically underrepresented, and equip them for fulfilling, well-paying careers. For our state to compete in the modern knowledge-based economy, we need to make sure all residents have the opportunity and support to earn valuable postsecondary education and contribute to a flexible, future-proof workforce that attracts and retains top-tier employers.”
Executive directive instructs state departments to increase male enrollment and degree attainment