College Access

Updates from the

Governor’s Office

MACRAO Summer SummitJune 18, 2009

Brandy Johnson-FaithCollege Access Coordinator, Office of Governor

Granholm

On the Agenda

• Michigan Promise/Promise Zones

• Michigan College Access Network

• Michigan College Access Portal

• Updates from CEPI – E-Transcripts/LDS

Michigan Promise?

Message from the Governor…

Promise Zones

Inspired by the Kalamazoo Promise

Economic Development Strategy disguised as a scholarship program

Communities with above-average youth poverty rates could apply

“Zone” could be a school district, city, ISD, township, or county

Promise Zones: What comes with the Promise?

Promise MUST include: Funding sufficient to provide a student the tuition necessary to

obtain an associate's degree at a community college in Michigan

Promise CAN include: Funding sufficient to provide a student the tuition necessary to

obtain a bachelor’s degree at a public postsecondary institution in Michigan or combination of public postsecondary institutions.

Funding sufficient to provide a student to attend a private college in an amount not to exceed the average tuition necessary to obtain a bachelor’s degree at all public universities in the state.

Funding for educational improvement activities designed to increases college readiness at public schools located in the promise zone.

Promise Zones: Who Gets the Promise?

A Promise must provide financial assistance to ALL students residing in the PZ and who graduate from a high school located within that zone.

Promise Zone may have some qualifications: Prorated based on the number of years

student has resided in the PZ/attended school in the PZ

Requirement that student maintain minimum GPA or classload

Limited to specific institutions.

Promise Zones

Must be last-dollar:

“A requirement that graduates of a public high school or nonpublic high school exhaust all other known and available restricted grants for tuition and fees for postsecondary education provided by a federal, state, or local governmental entity, as determined by the board.”

Designated Promise Zones

• Baldwin

• Battle Creek

• Benton Harbor

• Detroit

• Hazel Park

• Jackson

• Lansing

• Muskegon

• Pontiac

• Saginaw

Next Steps for Promise Zones

Establish Promise Zone Authority

Create Promise Zone Development Plan

Raise necessary funds

Start awarding scholarships

After 2 years, Promise Zone begins to capture ½ of the growth in the SET to fund the Promise into perpetuity

Michigan College Access Network: Background

June 2008: State of Michigan applied and was awarded College Access Challenge Grant from U.S. Department of Education. Governor Granholm designated Michigan Department of Treasury to administer grant.

July 2008: Governor’s Office and Treasury convened first “College Access Working Group” to take stock of current MI college access resources/services/programs, identify areas of duplication, opportunities for collaboration, and geographic/programmatic gaps.

Michigan College Access Network: Background

August: Consulted with National College Access Network (NCAN) on best practices for other statewide college access collaboratives

September: Attended NCAN annual conference – learned about “gold standard” states networks – Ohio College Access Network (OCAN) and College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC)

October-March: College Access Working Group continued to meet to plan these initiatives

Governor’s Education

SummitApril 28, 2009

Governor Granholm officially announces

MCAN

MCAN

GOAL: To significantly increase the college participation rate among low-income and first generation students.

Michigan’s first coordinating body for college access programs.

Will support community-based college access programs through advocacy, professional/program development, technical assistance, and funding opportunities.

MCAN Members

Local college access programs that offer college access services to low-income first-generation students, including:

Advisory Services (Admissions and Financial Aid)

Last Dollar Scholarships

Resource Centers

Retention

Adult Learner Services

Early Awareness

Career Development

Michigan College Access Portal

Web-based one-stop-shop where students to plan, apply, and PAY for college.

Interactive, dynamic tool for families, counselors, educators, and other college access professionals to use to best serve Michigan Students.

Modeled after the College Foundation of North Carolina (www.cfnc.org).

Portal Functions

Career planning tools

Personal portfolio of high school courses, activities, awards, and test courses which will be auto-populated into online admissions applications

Information about transferring between Michigan higher education institutions

A tool to measure progress toward meeting college entrance requirements

Referrals to local college access programs in the student’s community

User-friendly profiles of Michigan colleges and universities, including side-by-side comparisons, virtual campus tours, and a matching assistant

More Portal Functions

Free ACT test preparation resources

Ability to submit all college-related documents online, including admissions applications, FAFSA, transcripts, loan applications, etc.

Opportunity to “ask an expert” on application-related questions

A tool to search for grant and scholarship opportunities

Ability to check status of student loans and get financial literacy tips

A tool to open or access a student’s 529 College Savings Plan Accounts

Timeline

RFP Process

Portal Development (Design Teams)

Beta Testing, Training

Portal Goes Live

Marketing and Outreach Efforts

Updates from CEPI

E-TRANSCRIPT EXCHANGE

CEPI will be working with a vendor to provide secure electronic transcript services for use in high schools and higher education institutions statewide.

Updates from CEPI

E-TRANSCRIPT EXCHANGEP-16 LONGITUDIANL DATA SYSTEM

By utilizing the state-issued UIC, the e-transcript exchange provides a link between K12 and

Postsecondary records across the state. This enables the longitudinal tracking of students to occur.

This will further efforts to implement a Michigan P-16 Longitudinal Data System. This will help MI monitor the

# of MI students who attend and graduate college.

Updates from CEPI

Message from CEPI:

Expands access

Goal is to provide the most flexible technical approach to the transfer process

High schools and colleges will not have to alter the technology they use locally for managing student records.

Contract will also ensure that the services are provided free of charge to all students, high schools and participating colleges and universities in the state.

Updates from CEPI

P-16 LONGITUDINAL DATA SYSTEM

CEPI will work with state partners to plan LDS and document project requirements

Will use “10 essential elements of a LDS”

ARRA Assurances

Race to the Top Funds

Questions?

Contact Info

Brandy Johnson-Faith College Access Coordinator Office of the Governor, Policy Division (517) 335-5113 johnsonfaithb@michigan.gov