News Articles
News Articles
High School Innovation
Michigan gives grants to districts that require students to fill out FAFSA
March 3, 2026
Bridge Michigan
The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential recently announced that it had awarded $10 million in grants to 67 school districts as part of its Universal FAFSA Challenge.
All Areas of Work
Pathway Awards recognize Michigan educators
February 28, 2026
Soo Leader
The awards honor regional leaders and education providers who are working to ensure students have access to high-quality, career-aligned Career and Technical Education programs
All Areas of Work
Whitmer’s final budget proposal boosts education funding, MCAN responds
February 12, 2026
Soo Leader
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer unveiled her final state budget proposal this week, drawing praise from education advocates who say the plan strengthens Michigan's commitment to student success.
All Areas of Work
Grant given to MiCHEP will help educate prisoners in Michigan
January 29, 2026
WILX
Michigan College Access Network is using grant money to help prison education programs statewide. $750,000 from the Mellon Foundation will go to the Michigan Consortium for Higher Education in Prison (MiCHEP). The money will be used to hire an executive director for MiCHEP and start a sub-award program for the 14 colleges involved with MiCHEP.
Adult Student Attainment
Michigan prison college programs get $750K grant to expand humanities education
January 12, 2026
Michigan Advance
A three-year $750,000 grant awarded to the Michigan College Access Network aims to strengthen and expand education programs in the state’s prison system. The grant will support the continued development of the Michigan Consortium for Higher Education in Prison, and will help bring humanities-centered education modules to incarcerated individuals across the state.
All Areas of Work
Michigan AmeriCorps programs relaunch after funding restored
December 26, 2025
The Center Square
Two of the AmeriCorps programs in question were administered by the Michigan College Access Network. With the return of federal funding following a heated legal battle, AdviseMI and College Completion Corps have both now been relaunched.
All Areas of Work
Michigan rises from bottom in college financial aid with slate of new grants
December 18, 2025
Bridge Michigan
Qualifying students can get federal grants, aid from the institutions they attend and Michigan offers more than a dozen scholarships and grants to make earning a credential more affordable. During the 2023-24 academic year, the state awarded $375.4 million in financial aid to 117,336 students, according to Michigan’s Scholarships and Grants Annual Report.
All Areas of Work
Michigan State Democrats attempt to reverse GOP funding cuts
December 18, 2025
ABC 13
“I think it's hurtful to call programs waste, fraud, and abuse,” said Ryan Fewins-Bliss, the executive director of the Michigan College Access Network. “Fire trucks are not waste, fraud, and abuse. Scholarships for police officers are not waste, fraud, and abuse.”
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Michigan College Access Network relaunches programs halted by DOGE cuts
December 9, 2025
Michigan Advance
Due to advocacy work and successful legal challenges lodged against President Donald Trump’s administration, funding for several programs has been restored, allowing the Michigan College Access Network to relaunch the programs last month.
All Areas of Work
AmeriCorps back in Michigan schools after federal funding restoration
December 8, 2025
WILX
Millions of dollars in AmeriCorps funding has been restored in Michigan, putting high school and college counselors back on campuses around the state after a temporary funding pause earlier this year. The financial boost allows programs like AdviseMI to resume operations, including at East Lansing Public Schools, where college adviser Candace Moore works with students to explore college options and plan for their futures.
All Areas of Work
Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College receives nearly $650K to expand services
November 29, 2025
MLive
The grant will fund several initiatives at the tribal college. The school plans to expand its Learning Assistant program and launch a Summer Bridge program to help new students adjust to college-level coursework. Faculty members will also participate in the Michigan College Access Network Gateway Course Redesign, starting with English and math courses.
All Areas of Work
Bay College wins Michigan College Access Network Endurance Award
November 17, 2025
Upper Michigan's Source
The Michigan College Access Network awarded Bay College with the Endurance Award. Bay won the award at MCAN’s 14th Annual Conference in Lansing earlier this month. Bay College President Nerita Hughes says the college won for its creativity in working with K-12, as well as with other colleges. She says the award helps de-stigmatize community college.
All Areas of Work
LHS counselor honored with MCAN Passport Award
November 12, 2025
The County Press
Lapeer High School counselor Julie Pecore has been recognized for her efforts to prepare students for college and inspire their pursuits of postsecondary degrees.
Higher Education Innovation
Bay College hosts seniors as part of Michigan College Month
October 27, 2025
Daily Press
“As we celebrate College Month, we also want to recognize the incredible work of Michigan College Access Network,” Director of Admissions Jessica Beaver said. “MCAN provides valuable resources to students and families preparing for college from financial aid guidance to college planning tools, they help make higher education more accessible across the state of Michigan.”
All Areas of Work
LSSU to revamp gateway courses to boost student success
October 15, 2025
Soo Leader
Lake Superior State University (LSSU) has been selected as one of 14 Michigan institutions to participate in the inaugural Gateway Course Redesign Faculty Academy, an 18-month initiative by the Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) in collaboration with Almy Education and Sova.
All Areas of Work
State budget boosts K-12, college funding, but cuts some scholarships
October 5, 2025
Soo Leader
After months of difficult negotiation that nearly pushed the state into a government shutdown, the Michigan legislature and governor’s office were able to come together and pass a bipartisan fiscal year 2026 budget early this morning. Michigan College Access Network, along with our partners in K-12 and higher education, are digging through the budget bills, evaluating what they mean for Michigan’s students and families.
All Areas of Work
Financial aid, college funding hikes: How Michigan’s budget deal impacts higher education
October 3, 2025
MLive
The budget’s higher education plan, which marginally increases operational funds for all 15 of Michigan’s public universities and more than two dozen community colleges, may fall short of some priorities that industry leaders stumped for as state budget talks rolled on this fall.
All Areas of Work
Statewide push helps students prepare for college and beyond
September 28, 2025
Soo Leader
With application fees waived at many colleges, Michigan's annual College Month is providing critical support to thousands of high school seniors preparing for their next steps