Michigan Community College Association’s Post

The USC College Advising Corps (USC CAC) places recent college graduates in high schools to serve as full-time college advisers. They become mentors within the school setting and are often the key resource for students to access and persist in their education beyond high school. During the 2022-23 academic year, 43 advisers met with over 11,000 students, of whom 92% were high school seniors. USC CAC advisers directly assisted nearly 7,000 students to submit 23,622 college applications; 6,957 financial aid applications were completed; and at least $28 million was secured in college scholarships. Read the full article and learn more about USC CAC. https://lnkd.in/gjNfRbJ9 #CollegeAdvising #Admissions #CollegeBound

📰 Great piece from my super-knowledgeable friend and colleague Dr. Michelle Miller-Adams! From the CommonWealth Beacon article: While #Massachusetts has long been a leader in education, other states have leapfrogged its first-in-the-nation status by providing many of their residents with access to #tuition-free college. #MassEducate, the plan released on May 6 by state Senate leaders, aims to restore the state to its leading position and educate the next generation of workers. MassEducate includes three key elements that research shows boost the success of tuition-free college programs: First, a universal community college guarantee addresses both the cost and the complexity of paying for college. Under MassEducate, the state’s community colleges would become tuition-free for all future high-school graduates. Second, the proposal includes a stipend for students from low- and middle-income families. Students from households earning up to 125 percent of the state median income ($182,000 for a family of four) would receive $1,200 each year. Lower-income students eligible for Pell Grants would receive an additional $1,200 from existing state need-based aid. Students can use these funds toward the cost of living while they are in college. Third, MassEducate would deliver a substantial 30 percent increase in funding for essential “wraparound” services at community colleges through the state’s SUCCESS program. Many students who are introduced to higher education through free tuition programs need intensive advising to help them overcome barriers, from figuring out which courses to take to building their time management skills to connecting with the right #tutoring resources on campus. Research shows that wraparound support increases the number of students who complete their program – improving the state’s return on its investment in tuition-free college. To get the maximum benefit from a tuition-free college program, policymakers should also consider investing in a comprehensive approach to college advising at the high school level. Community colleges, in turn, should prioritize helping students get real-world work experience through #internships or industry-specific pathways programs that speak to local labor market needs. For Massachusetts, a tuition-free path to a two-year degree or credential would support the state’s low- and middle-income residents, make higher education more accessible, improve skills in the workforce, and increase equity in college access. It is a crucial step in making the state a leader – once again – in responding to the educational needs of the modern economy. #PayingForCollege #CommunityColleges #StudentDebt #FinancialAid #AffordableEducation

So excited to attend the College Changes Everything Conference, sponsored by State of Illinois - Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Thanks, Jim Reed for telling me about this event. I can’t wait to learn from the session, “If You Think We’re Just a Scholarship Program, You’re Missing the Point: Hope Chicago’s Approach to Promoting College Persistence and Beyond” hosted by Hope Chicago. When I first heard about the great work they’re doing, it was only mentioned as a scholarship program. Certainly, one of the things that I’ve learned over the years from experience and research is that first-generation college students benefit from full wrap-around support to persist through college. The scholarships are great and can take one less worry away. The other four fit factors that support all students with college success are Academic, Social, Vocational and Cultural. These fit factors can be applied even when students are developing their college list in high school. For first-generation college students, supporting parents, as well, is even more important. My parents finished school in 8th and 10th grade, so they had no idea how to support me through college. In hindsight, it worked out for the best that I attended college out of state. There likely would have been less support and more discouragement if I stayed local. I’m grateful for programs like Hope Chicago who recognize that it takes parent/caregiver support, as well, for first-generation students to complete college. #parentingteenagers #collegeprep #cce4me

We start talking to students and parents in the Pedrozzi Young Scholars Program about college prep courses — known as A-G — required for admission to California’s public universities, when the students are in 6th grade. Why so early? Middle school is a great time for students to start learning how to set academic goals and challenge themselves academically. Doing so helps prepare them to hit the ground running in high school. One of our mantras is that high school graduation requirements are not the same as college admission requirements. Armed with this knowledge and our support throughout high school, students in the program have a clear road map to follow to complete the A-G courses by senior year. Doing so expands their post-secondary options.

The University of Central Arkansas has been awarded a 2024 First-Generation College Celebration initiative grant, which will help the institution further its commitment to supporting first-generation college students. A first-generation college student who is the first in their family (one or more parents do not have a four-year college degree) to go to and graduate from college. First-generation students make up 39% of the entering class this year at UCA, up 4% from last year. UCA welcomed one of its largest incoming freshman classes, with 2,183 students, marking a 26% increase in incoming students compared with fall 2023. Overall enrollment for fall 2024 at UCA is 10,123, which is a 3.4% gain from the previous year. 

Why are more people not talking about this? Free two-year college degrees for all? This is a big f***ing deal! 🥂 This effectively makes a college education attainable for all (a) in Massachusetts and (b) in any other jurisdiction that offers this. If you do two years in community college (and perform well), you could very well have a state school (or possibly even a private college) somewhere give you a scholarship for the final two years of undergrad. “Gov. Maura Healey on Monday signed into law the $57.78 billion Fiscal 2025 state budget, which in part establishes the MassEducate program, a new initiative that makes every community college in the state free for anyone who has never earned a degree.” https://lnkd.in/eaCSut8u

Planning for your child’s post-high school education can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Read our blog, “Preparing for College,” to learn the planning steps for different stages of life that can keep families on track and less stressed when it comes to executing their collegiate plan.

More Outstanding News from Benedict College!

Middlesex County College. Are you considering Middlesex County College for your higher education? This article will provide an in-depth look at everything you need to know about the college, from its history and academic programs to campus life and student resources...