Reducing Barriers. Expanding Access. Supporting Completion.
The Midland Area Career & College Access Network is a collective dedicated to reducing barriers, expainding postsecondary access, and increasing postsecondary completion.
Interested in career, college, or skilling up support?
Complete the form below and the Midland Area Career & College Access Network will be in touch!
Connect with us todayWho We Are
We are a learner-centered, community-minded network united in facilitating equitable postsecondary education access and attainment in and around Midland County.
Who are our community partners that make this impact possible?
- 211
- Academic and Career Education Academy
- Adoption Option
- Bullock Creek School District
- Coleman Community Schools
- Coleman Postsecondary Hub
- Delta College
- Department of Health and Human Services Midland County
- Discover You at The Rock Center for Youth Development
- Dow Corporation
- Education and Training Connection Midland
- Family and Children’s Services of Mid-Michigan
- Grace A. Dow Memorial Library
- Greater Michigan Construction Academy
- Legacy Center
- Midland County Educational Services Agency
- Meridian Public Schools
- MichiganWorks! Great Lakes Bay Region
- Midland Area Community Foundation
- Midland Public Schools
- MyMichigan Health
- Northwood University
- Saginaw Valley State University
- United Way of Midland County
- West Midland Family Center
- Windover High School
What are our values?
- Postsecondary education is the attainment of education beyond high school, including postsecondary certificates and academic degrees.
- Postsecondary education is a necessity: Postsecondary attainment dramatically increases an individual’s economic independence in a knowledge-based economy.
- Postsecondary education is for everyone: We work toward changing the systems that perpetuate inequities in postsecondary attainment.
- Postsecondary education is a public good: Postsecondary attainment is critical to a just and equitable society, strong economy, thriving democracy, and healthy community.
What is our purpose?
- Ensure equitable access to comprehensive services aimed at assisting all students in completing postsecondary education, but especially first-generation, low-income, and students of historically marginalized populations.
- Build a culture that encourages completion of career preparation or college education.
- Increase success of both traditional and nontraditional students through lowering barriers.
What We Do
Midland Area Career & College Access Network is a collective impact initiative that works to reduce barriers and increase postsecondary access & attainment for all in Midland County, and specifically for low-income, historically marginalized, and first-generation learners.
Why do we do this work? Because data tells us that an educated community is a thriving community. Communities with high postsecondary attainment rates experience stronger economies, higher housing values, decreased health concerns, and less reliance on social services, for instance.
How do we get the work done? The Midland Area Career and College Access Network increases postsecondary access and attainment opportunities for Midland County residents by aligning resources, systems, and programs that serve learners. These 3 teams move this work: The Adult Learner Team, The Postsecondary Student Success Team, and the Leadership Team. Each team is comprised of a cross-section of our community’s direct service providers and leaders—from K12 education, postsecondary education institutions, nonprofit organizations, philanthropic organizations, businesses, and workforce development organizations.
- Adult Learner Team: This action works together to connect adult learners to postsecondary pathway opportunities through lowering barriers and supporting learners to and through “the next right step” towards degrees, certifications, credential completion, and career development. Direct service providers (such as human resource recruiters, social workers, and adult degree program advisors) and leaders (such as adult learning program coordinators) from postsecondary, business, workforce development, nonprofit, and philanthropy serve on this team.
- Postsecondary Student Success Team: This action team works together to support high school students as they prepare for, transition to, and persist through postsecondary education by lowering barriers. Direct service providers (such as high school counselors, college advisors, admissions representatives, and trade school advisors) and leaders (such as principals) from K12, postsecondary, workforce development, nonprofit, and philanthropy serve on this team.
- Leadership Team: This team leads the entire initiative as decision-makers, builders of public will, providers of vision and strategic direction, mobilizers of funding, and facilitators of systems-level change.
Postsecondary Glossary
- Michigan Reconnect: A last-dollar scholarship program available to Michigan residents 25 and over to attend an in-district community college or with deeply discounted tuition at an out-of- district community college. Learn about this program.
- Apprenticeship: A structured work-based learning program that combines paid on-the-job training with related classroom instruction, designed to equip individuals with industry-specific skills and credentials under the guidance of experienced professionals.
- Articulation Agreement: A formal pact between two or more educational institutions that outlines the transfer process for students. It specifies which courses and credits from one institution will be accepted by the other.
- Associate Degree: A postsecondary academic degree awarded by community colleges, technical colleges, and some universities upon completion of approximately two years of study.
- Certificate: Awarded for the successful completion of a postsecondary education program that typically focuses on specific skills or knowledge required in a particular field. These programs are generally shorter in duration than degree programs.
- Certification: A credential awarded by a recognized organization that verifies an individual has met specific standards, skills, or knowledge in a particular field or profession. They are often industry-specific and may require renewal through continuing education or re-examination.
- College: Any postsecondary education leading to a certificate, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree.
- College Credit: A unit of measurement that represents the completion of coursework or competency by a postsecondary institution. They may be transferred between education providers, depending on policies and agreements.
- Credit for Prior Learning: An educational policy that allows individuals to earn academic credit for knowledge and skills they have gained outside of the traditional classroom setting.
- CTE (Career and Technical Education): An educational approach that combines academic instruction with hands-on training to prepare students for high-demand careers in various industries. These programs are available in high schools, career centers, and community colleges.
- Credential: An official recognition of an individual’s knowledge, skills, and abilities in a specific field. It can take various forms, including degrees, certificates, certifications, licenses, and more.
- Educational Attainment: The achievement of a specific level of completion in traditional K–12 and/or postsecondary settings.
- Equity: Fair and just distribution of resources, opportunities, and support based on individual needs to ensure that everyone can achieve their full potential, recognizing that different people and communities face different barriers.
- Internship: A temporary, work-based learning experience that allows individuals, typically students or recent graduates, to gain practical, hands-on experience in a specific field or industry. Can be paid or unpaid.
- Pathway: A structured sequence of learning experiences that guide individuals from one level of education to the next, ultimately leading to a credential, certification, or degree. They are designed to provide clear, flexible routes for individuals to achieve their career and educational goals.
- Portable Credential: An academic achievement that is recognized across different regions, employers, or industries, allowing the individual to use it in multiple contexts. It is not limited to a specific job, employer, or geographic location.
- Postsecondary: Refers to any level of education that happens after high school graduation.
- Postsecondary Completion: The satisfaction of all requirements of an academic program in higher education — or a measure of how many who start a program follow through and earn the desired credential.
- Prior Learning Assessment: A process used to evaluate an individual’s past experiences, education, skills, and abilities to determine if they can be applied toward earning postsecondary credits.
- Scholarship: A form of financial aid awarded to students to help cover educational expenses, such as tuition, fees, or housing. They are awarded based on set criteria and typically do not need to be repaid.
- Sixty by 30: A goal adopted by the State of Michigan to increase educational attainment and meet labor market demands.
- Stackable Credential: A series of academic programs that can be earned sequentially, with each building upon the previous one. These provide a pathway and allow individuals to gradually enhance their skills and qualifications.
- Transferable: Refers to college credits that can move with a student and be applied to different degree or program to fulfill a course requirement or elective within that program.
Events
Our Impact
MCAN Impact Map Performance Overview for Midland County:
Performance Overview – Impact Map (micollegeaccess.org)
Yearly Impact Reports:
Impact Sampler:
- A first-generation student attending Windover High School completed a Martin Luther King Scholarship Application, marking the first ever application from a Windover student. (November 2022)
- Over 80% of Bullock Creek High School first-generation college students completed at least one college application. (December 2022)
- A first-generation student attending ACEA completed the FAFSA, Albion College application, and Community Foundation Scholarship Application. If accepted to Albion College, this student will also receive the Albion College Promise, covering full tuition. (December 2022)
- 8 of 11 Windover High seniors have completed the FAFSA (February 2023)
- A student learned she was TIP eligible and cried tears of joy realizing she could better her circumstances. She’s developed a postsecondary plan, which includes beginning studies at Delta this Fall and then transferring to SVSU. (December 2022)
- Meridian and Coleman students took field trips to Ferris; for most, it was their first time ever on a college campus. Students’ motivation to get to a campus as college students grew. (January 2023)
- Meridian and Coleman hosted Alumni panels to engage students in postsecondary stories firsthand. Alumni of diverse backgrounds working in a variety of fields spoke about their college/trade school experiences and their transitions out of high school into postsecondary spaces. These events were heavily and enthusiastically attended by students. (January 2023)
- Coleman held a Scholarship Workshop. The majority of Seniors attended (thanks to the support of the English IV teacher). Every present workforce student started the HBA Building Trades Scholarship, while every trade school and college student started or completed the Community Foundation Scholarships. Some students even completed their FAFSA during this workshop! (December 2022)
- Over 82% of first-generation Coleman seniors have submitted a College Application. (February 2023)
- Over 100 Dow High and Midland High’s TIP eligible students were individually contacted by their College Adviser about their TIP eligibility. Most were unaware this benefit applied to them and appreciated an explanation of the TIP program and help setting up their portals. (November 2022)
- All first-generation students at Midland High and Dow High have their postsecondary plans in motion. This means they’ve completed their FAFSAs, college applications, trade school applications, and/or have secured jobs. (February 2023)
- ACEA held 2 successful “Career Days” during which members of the community spoke with the students about their careers, answered questions, and gave advice. One day was focused on trades, and the other on First Responders; students interested in these career pathways were very engaged in the event. Link to Midland Daily News article: https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/First-responders-speak-to-students-at-ACEA-career-16924429.php (February 2022)
- A Bullock Creek senior student did not have parental support to go to college, so they were unable to complete the FAFSA. They did not know what their next steps were, and they thought there was no chance of pursuing their goals and going to college. The advisor met with them multiple times to figure out what could be done, helped them complete their FAFSA as an independent student, connected them with scholarship opportunities, and supported them with every step along the way – the student is now attending a 4-year university at no cost to them. They are still doing well after their first semester, and they have noted that they would not be in this position without all of the support from their advisor. (November 2022)
- An ETC student received their GED, and they wanted to continue their education so they could have more job opportunities with better pay. However, they were worried about the cost and they did not know how to begin the college-going process. The ACEA Adviser met with this person and helped them complete their Michigan Reconnect application, FAFSA, and Delta College applications. All of these steps were completed in one day, and the remaining steps for Delta College were mapped out as well. The student was very thankful and cried tears of joy when they realized they were accepted to the Reconnect Program and Delta College, allowing them to get a college degree at no cost. (November 2022)
Interested in learning more and getting involved?
Connect with Kristin Sovis, Midland Area Career & College Access Coordinator and Postsecondary Education Leader at the Midland Area Community Foundation, at ksovis@midlandfdn.org.