News Articles
News Articles
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College leaders in last-minute 'frenzy' to increase FAFSA completion, enrollment
July 23, 2024
Crain's Detroit Business
With the start of fall semester classes at Michigan colleges and universities only a month or so out, the frenzied push to get more new high school graduates to complete the federal financial aid form for the coming year continues.
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For Brandy Johnson, increasing college access in Michigan is more than a job
July 23, 2024
Crain's Detroit Business
As the first generation to go to college in her family, Brandy Johnson, president of the Michigan Community College Association, has a passion for making college accessible. It’s why she founded the Michigan College Access Network in 2010 and years later in that role nudged then-gubernatorial hopeful Gretchen Whitmer and other candidates to set a bold post-secondary attainment goal for the state, make college more affordable and community college tuition-free.
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Local libraries host college access help
July 22, 2024
Ludington Daily News
With a “better” FAFSA, the new Community College Guarantee, and the same old challenges of getting on track for college, prospective college students need support. That’s why the Mason County District Library, Mason College Access Network, Mason County Promise Zone and West Shore Community College have teamed up to offer drop-in college access support over the next two weeks at both the Ludington and Scottville branches, they announced in a press release.
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Michigan college graduates make $33,400 more, but fewer students attending
July 10, 2024
Bridge Michigan
As fewer students choose to go to college amid rising tuition rates and record national debt, state data show Michigan college graduates still significantly out-earn their peers.
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5 Strategies to Support Academic Advisors
June 28, 2024
Psychology Today
Earlier this month, I had the honor to serve on a panel about advising best practices at a gathering of the Detroit Drives Degrees Community College Collaborative (D3C3) at Schoolcraft College. Jamie Storey, director of higher education innovation at Michigan College Access Network (MCAN), opened by asking each panelist why academic advising is core to a college’s mission.
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LCAN launches program to keep college-intending students on track
June 22, 2024
The County Press
This summer, the Lapeer County College Access Network is striving to ensure that college-intending students complete their enrollment processes and avoid falling into a phenomenon known as “summer melt.”
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Wayne State committed to giving Detroit high schoolers a chance at a college experience
June 14, 2024
Chalkbeat Detroit
According to 2022 Census data, only 17% of Detroit residents have a college degree. That number is low compared to college rates in other cities and across the state, said Cyekeia Lee, the director of DCAN. That’s why the organization is following Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Sixty by 30 goal, which aims to have 60% of working-age adults obtaining a skill certificate or college degree by 2030.
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Petoskey High School recognized nationally for college application campaigning
June 8, 2024
Petoskey News-Review
The Public Schools of Petoskey recently earned a national honor, being recognized as one of 27 School of Excellence awardees by the ACT’s American College Application Campaign. Petoskey High School was nominated by the Michigan College Access Network for the award.
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The FAFSA woes complicating federal college aid are especially acute for some Detroit students
May 20, 2024
Chalkbeat Detroit
In Detroit, these problems have tested the resilience of vulnerable young people already facing barriers to higher education. It is a roadblock that looms large in a city where just 17% of residents hold a college degree.
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State programs aim to address decrease in FAFSA applications
May 3, 2024
WXMQ 19 News
State outreach programs have been working to get students and families the assistance they need to submit their FAFSA. The newest program is from the Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) and the Office of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). It’s called the Retired Educator FAFSA Specialists Program, or REFS.
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FAFSA setbacks delaying college decision day
May 1, 2024
WILX
Setbacks in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are pushing back enrollment deadlines for some universities. The delays come as FAFSA implemented big changes to their process this year.
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'It's a stressful time': Financial aid delay has college decisions on hold in Michigan
April 21, 2024
The Detroit News
The U.S. Department of Education's late rollout is just one issue that has plagued the search for financial aid this spring for graduating high school seniors and their families. It's also created uncertainty and delays for some students in knowing how much financial aid for which they will qualify to make paying for college more affordable.
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FAFSA fiasco leaves Michigan students, families in ‘anxiety inducing’ limbo
April 19, 2024
Bridge Michigan
In Michigan, the FAFSA fiasco carries an extra wrinkle of anxiety: The form is also the gateway for students to qualify for a state scholarship program that could also reduce the cost of college.
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Michigan Business Beat | Ryan Fewins-Bliss, MCAN - FAFSA Week Of Action - April 15-19
April 19, 2024
Michigan Business Beat
Jeffrey Mosher welcomes back Ryan Fewins-Bliss, Executive Director, Michigan College Access Network, to discuss MCAN's focus on FAFSA Week of Action and associated efforts.
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Michigan FAFSA challenges: High school seniors slow to fill out form
April 1, 2024
Bridge Michigan
Michigan ranks 27th in states for the rate of high school seniors who have submitted the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as the FAFSA, according to the National College Attainment Network.
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Michigan Business Beat | Jamie Jacobs, MCAN Responds To Policy Updates By SoS And MI Fiscal Budget
March 26, 2024
Michigan Business Beat
Chris Holman welcomes Jamie Jacobs, MCAN deputy director, to discuss MCAN's efforts in 2024 and how it's reacting to policy and planning from agencies in Lansing as it impacts college affordability and access in Michigan.
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Amid FAFSA Delays, Whitmer Urges Students To Complete Form
March 21, 2024
Gongwer
Governor Gretchen Whitmer arrived at Saginaw High School Thursday prepared to urge a group of college-bound seniors to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, a mammoth form of financial information that can secure students thousands of dollars in scholarships or loans.
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Midland Area Career and College Access Network helps future students get to college
March 11, 2024
Huron Daily Tribune
It can be overwhelming, but Midland Area Career and College Access Network hopes to remove as many barriers as possible for post-secondary education, said Kristin Sovis, post-secondary education leader.