About MPOLA

Michigan College Access Network is proud to convene the Michigan Postsecondary Organization Leadership Alliance, a collaborative initiative uniting leadership from several key state professional organizations. MPOLA brings together representatives from the following groups:

• American College Personnel Association – Michigan Chapter (ACPA​-MI)
• Michigan Academic Advising Association (MIACADA)
• Michigan Association of College Admissions Counselors (MACAC)
• Michigan Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (MACRAO)
• Michigan Career Development Association (M​ichCDA)
• Michigan College Access Program Personnel (MI​-CAPP)
• Michigan Student Financial Aid Association (MSFAA)

The alliance’s mission is to advance holistic student success and college completion across Michigan’s higher education landscape. By convening these diverse organizations, MPOLA seeks to foster collaboration, leverage collective expertise, and align efforts to support students effectively from postsecondary exploration and access initiatives to enrollment through graduation.

Goals and Objectives

1. Promote Holistic Student Support: Recognizing that student success extends beyond academics, MPOLA prioritizes strategies that address the full spectrum of student needs, including academic advising, financial aid, career development, mental health, and more.
2. Facilitate Collaborative Professional Development: MPOLA members aim to streamline and enhance professional development opportunities for educators, advisors, and other higher education professionals. By combining resources and expertise, the alliance seeks to deliver impactful training and resources that empower higher education professionals to better support students.
3. Strengthen Professional Association Capacity: By sharing best practices, tools, and insights, MPOLA helps member associations build capacity to improve member opportunities, leverage their network, and in turn, supports college access, persistence, and completion rates.
4. Build a Shared Vision for Student Success: Through regular convenings and joint initiatives, MPOLA fosters a unified commitment to a student-centered approach, ensuring that every aspect of the higher education system contributes to student success.

Strategic Initiatives

• Coordinated Events and Conferences: MPOLA aims to facilitate shared professional development events that bring together members from participating organizations to explore cross-cutting issues in student success.
• Resource Sharing and Collaboration: The alliance serves as a hub for exchanging tools, research, and best practices that benefit Michigan’s postsecondary professional associations and the higher education community overall.
• Advocacy for Student-ready Policies and Processes: MPOLA collaborates on advocating for state and institutional policies and processes that promote equitable college access, success, and completion.
• Champion Diverse Student Needs: The alliance emphasizes addressing systemic barriers and creating pathways to success for historically and intentionally minoritized student populations.

A Vision for Michigan’s Students

MPOLA is driven by a shared belief that Michigan’s students deserve a seamless and supportive pathway to achieving their postsecondary goals. By aligning the strengths and resources of its member organizations, the alliance plays a pivotal role in ensuring that educators, advisors, and institutional leaders have the tools and support they need to guide students to success. MCAN serves as a convener and supporter, coordinating efforts and providing infrastructure to help MPOLA achieve its shared vision.

For more information, contact Jamie Storey, director of higher education innovation.