Michigan College Access Network

09/09/2026

Today, MCAN hosted the Braiding Community Support for College Student Basic Needs convening in partnership with the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential.

“Addressing student basic needs is vital to meeting our Sixty by 30 attainment goal. If we want more Michigan students to earn a postsecondary degree or certificate, we have to come together around the whole student and recognize that challenges like housing, food, transportation, child care and mental health can stand between a student and their diploma,” said Ryan Fewins-Bliss, executive director of MCAN. “We know there are resources out there to help students meet these needs. The goal of this work is to connect the people and organizations already working in communities across the state to create a comprehensive, braided support system that is easy for students to access, keeping them on track for graduation and brighter futures. That kind of collaboration is essential to building a Michigan where all students — especially students from low-income backgrounds, students who would be the first in their family to graduate college, and students of color — have the opportunity to earn a postsecondary credential and reach their full potential.”

Read MiLEAP’s Student Basic Needs Task Force's report: https://buff.ly/IPQENoL

09/08/2026

"'In our mind, direct admission is going to remove any of the perceived barriers, so we can make the journey of the college-search process smoother,' said Shane Lewis, director of admissions at Oakland University. “It removes that rejection fear earlier in the process.” https://buff.ly/UvnGh6o

Although the model is not as straightforward as some states’ programs, experts in Michigan are hopeful it will make a difference for students who are unsure whether they want to go to college.

09/03/2026

09/03/2026

United For ALICE is accepting submissions for its 2026 United For ALICE Feedback Survey through Sept. 14. Help inform and enhance future ALICE research, data tools, and resources — take the survey here: https://buff.ly/LnjQbgc

08/31/2026

Last week, the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential released the final report from its Michigan Dual Enrollment Task Force, outlining recommendations to make dual enrollment more accessible, equitable and aligned across Michigan’s K–12 and postsecondary education systems.

“Expanding dual enrollment is about more than increasing participation — it is about building a system that makes opportunity accessible, sustainable, and meaningful,” said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, MiLEAP executive director. Read the full report here: https://buff.ly/Tn5gopX 🎓

08/26/2026

Officials are aiming to reach 8,000 residents with the Michigan Reconnect expansion and provide free tuition to young people whose high school education was impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

08/26/2026

"Growing evidence across Michigan shows that boys are falling behind girls at nearly every education level and that, as a result, impacts their success in the workforce. That evidence is stark: Michigan boys are more likely to struggle with reading in elementary school, more likely to rank among the state’s lowest-performing students, and less likely to continue their education after high school. In fact, only 31.5% of male high school graduates enrolled in college in 2025, nearly an 11-point gap from female graduates." https://www.crainsdetroit.com/forum/cdb-boys-education-teachers-20260824/

08/24/2026

Yesterday we officially wrapped up MCAN’s 15th birthday year — and what a year it has been! We’ve celebrated the people, partnerships, milestones, and moments that have shaped MCAN over the past 15 years. We’re grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey and helped make MCAN what it is today.

As we close out this celebratory year, we wanted to make it easy to revisit some of the content we have shared — view the archive at https://micollegeaccess.org/news-and-events/news/blogs/15th-recap 💙🎓

Over the past year, MCAN has had the opportunity to celebrate the people, partnerships, milestones, and moments that have shaped the organization over the past 15 years. We’re grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey and helped make MCAN what it is today. As we close out the annivers...

08/18/2026

15 years. So many memories. 💙

A look back at the people, partnerships, milestones, and moments that helped shape MCAN's journey — and the movement to expand college access across Michigan.

Thanks for being part of the story. The best is still ahead.

08/17/2026

In April 2026, Third Way surveyed 500 current regional public university (RPU) students about their views on higher education and their college experiences. To highlight a sector of colleges and universities that don’t often generate headlines, this memo unpacks key facts about who RPU students are and how they perceive their college or university is doing in delivering value and helping them reach their full potential.

Read the full report: https://www.thirdway.org/polling/shining-the-spotlight-on-regional-public-university-students