Brandy Johnson, Executive Director Jamie Jacobs, Director of Professional Development Updates from Michigan College Access Network

Our Goal Increase the percentage of Michigan residents with degrees or postsecondary certificates to: 60% by 2025

Meeting Labor Market Needs According to The Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce…. By the year 2020, 60% of the jobs in Michigan will require a formal postsecondary education credential (degrees or certificates)

Global Perspective

State Perspective: Michigan Attainment Rates TRACKING THE TREND: Percentage of the state’s working-age Population (25-64) with at least as associates degree

State Perspective

What Michigan Needs

Almost 2x Earning Power $26,372 High School Graduate $48,731 Four-Year Degree Holder

2014 Michigan Poverty & Unemployment Rates

Making the Case for College Access Higher levels of higher education is correlated with countless societal benefits: Increased tax revenues Decreased reliance on public assistance programs Decreases in crime and incarceration rates Increases in health behaviors (non-smoking, exercise, non-obesity, birth weight, breastfeeding) Increased rates of voting, volunteerism, and parent involvement

Bottom Line Michigan needs more young people with all types of postsecondary education credentials. There are proven strategies that high schools can employ to build a college- going culture. Principals and counselors must provide the leadership necessary to implement and maintain these strategies in buildings.

MCAN’s Resources for High Schools Programs to Plug Into: 3 Statewide Initiatives and Campaigns School Counselor Postsecondary Planning Training Course MCAN Annual Conference AdviseMI Grants for System Support: Local College Access Networks Reach Higher High Schools

Statewide Initiatives Support and maintain key statewide initiatives in order to increase college access, particularly within Local College Access Networks. October , 2015 February 1 – April 30, 2016 May 2016

Michigan College Application Week October 26 – 30, 2015 One week during the fall Dedicated support around college applications during the school day –Including fee waivers, application components, etc. Ensures every gradating senior has the opportunity to apply to college by the conclusion of the week Extra time and support around essay writing, letters of recommendation, match and fit discussions, scholarship searches, etc. is encouraged

Michigan College Cash Campaign February 1 – April 30 Statewide campaign around FAFSA completion meant to supplement existing activities and programs In-school rally around completing the FAFSA and learning about college affordability options

Michigan College Decision Day On or around May 1 Inspired by NCAA College Signing Day Hosted by high school and/or community event bringing together multiple high schools –Detroit’s Citywide College Signing Day Celebrate students’ success at commitment to postsecondary education

School Counselor Postsecondary Planning Training Course MCAN Priority: Train high school counselors to be highly qualified and effective college counselors. 8-month hybrid PD experience that focuses on the counselor’s role in college and career readiness 60 SCECHs FREE! MCAN provides a full scholarship to every participating counselor in the course More than 200 counselors have completed the course; Currently training third cohort of 150 counselors In process of developing the “201” version Registration for course will begin in April 2016

MCAN Conference Save-the-Date! March 8-9, 2016 Lansing Center

AdviseMI Embeds well-trained, dedicated, near-peer college advisers in high schools Launched in 2015; inspired by similar programs hosted at UM and MSU 40 advisers serving 51 high schools Intensive 5 week training Advisers are recent college graduates (Bachelor’s) from 12 partner colleges

AdviseMI Advisers help students… Navigate the complex college exploration process Retake college admissions tests Visit colleges and/or meet with admissions reps Apply to colleges that are a good match/fit Complete the FAFSA Secure financial aid Matriculate to college

Reach Higher High School Grants

Why Reach Higher? Building-level strategy to increase college- going culture and improve college enrollment outcomes –Next step to MCAN’s community-level network building strategy Suite of interconnected events, not one-off programs, key to moving the needle Formalize, systematize, and scale college programming that is already happening in schools

Reach Higher Strategy $5,000 grants earmarked for college access programming Postsecondary Advisory Council Triad of college access events Reach Higher High School self-assessment –College and career readiness counseling, programming and support Postsecondary Success Asset Mapping –College-going culture Data dashboard with building-level indicators

What is an LCAN? Community-based college access coordinating body for college access strategy Committed to increasing college readiness, enrollment, and completion Highly structured collaborative effort, as opposed to isolated efforts of individual organizations Supported by an alliance of cross-sector leaders representing K-12, higher ed, nonprofit sector, government, business, and philanthropy

What Do LCANs Do? Commit to building a college-going culture in community Agree on a vision Establish clear college readiness/access/success goals – and track progress transparently Align/coordinate existing organizations to shared goals to fill differentiated roles Implement collaborative action plan based on data- driven community priorities Hold partners accountable for results Not a new program

Menu of ways to plug in Register to participate in statewide initiatives (College Application Week, College Cash Campaign, College Decision Day) (Christi)statewide initiatives Counselors: Take the School Counselor Postsecondary Planning Training Course (Jamie)School Counselor Postsecondary Planning Training Course Attend the MCAN Conference March 8-9, 2016 (Michelle) Express interest in hosting an AdviseMI Adviser (Jacque) Express interest in becoming a Reach Higher High School in 2016 (Christi) Actively participate in your LCAN – or help spark a new one! (Ryan)

MCAN Staff Brandy Johnson Executive Director Sarah Anthony Director of Finance and Strategic Partnerships Bristol Day AdviseMI co-director Michelle Eichhorst Office Manager Jamie Jacobs Director of Professional Development Jacque Ruhland AdviseMI co-director Christi Taylor Director of Statewide Initiatives and Special Projects Ryan Fewins-Bliss Assistant Director for Network Development

Discussion and Questions