Schoolcraft College receives grant to enhance Early Action program

Schoolcraft College has received a $200,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) in order to enhance its existing Early Action program, which aims to connect students with resources that will help them succeed in school. The money will be used to revamp a survey that is sent out to help identify potential problems students may need help with, as well as additional staffing for the program.

According to an article on Schoolcraft College’s website, Travis Michalak, who is an Academic Success Coach for Schoolcraft College’s Learning Support Services, was quoted as saying of what he hopes will arise thanks to the funding received, “We’re hoping to reduce the number of cases we get, because if we can help these students before they come up on our radar via Early Action, they will be more successful. Student Success is everything we do here, and Early Action has helped us work with students who show signs of needing additional support.”

The Early Action program sends out a survey at the beginning of the school year asking students to identify any concerns they have or any support they already know they need. The purpose of the survey is to help Learning Support Services identify issues before a faculty member needs to file a case on the student’s behalf. The Early Action program can help keep students on track as semesters begin, thereby reducing the number of cases that need to be worked through.

The funding from MiLEAP will help revamp the survey, which is already quite successful, having received about 600 responses when it was first sent out. Additionally, the funding will allow for the hiring of an individual to serve as an Early Action Advocate, who will help with the investigation of Early Action cases filed by faculty members.

The goal of the Early Action program is to help increase student success, which is why MiLEAP granted the funding via its College Success Grant. 

Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, the director of MiLEAP, was quoted as saying, “We are excited to partner with the Governor on another important initiative to expand access to postsecondary education for more Michiganders. The College Success Grants make strategic short-term investments that will yield long-standing benefits by creating a more supportive system for students as they strive to earn a skill certificate or college degree.”

For more information about Schoolcraft College, visit the school’s website.