Glen Oaks Community College and the University of Olivet receive grant to launch GO2UO program

Glen Oaks Community College and the University of Olivet have formed a partnership to launch the GO2UO program, which is funded thanks to the two institutions receiving a grant from the Michigan Center for Adult College Success in the amount of $1.08 million. The grant will cover the costs of launching the program, including hiring for new positions at each institution to help the program run smoothly.

According to an article on Glen Oaks Community College’s website, Adam Cloutier, who serves as the school’s Vice President of Academics, was quoted as saying of the program and the benefits that will arise from its implementation, “At Glen Oaks, we understand that returning to school can be a challenge for adults who are balancing work, family, and education. The GO2UO program represents our commitment to helping these students achieve their educational and career goals by providing a clear, supported pathway from an associate to a bachelor’s degree.”

The state of Michigan has a Sixty by 30 initiative, the goal of which is to have 60% of the state’s working age population to have a college degree by the year 2030. Implementing the GO2UO program will help work toward the goal set by the state, as it will help more adult students earn a degree. The GO2UO program will support dual enrollment and will put in place resources at both institutions to help adult students along the path from associate degree to bachelor degree. Additionally, the program aligns with the University of Olivet’s Olivet 2030 plan, which also aims to bring more adult learners into college classrooms.

The Michigan Center for Adult College Success, which awarded this grant to Glen Oaks Community College and the University of Olivet via its Innovation Investment Awards, was created to support the Sixty by 30 initiative. According to the Michigan Center for Adult College Success website, the Center will “help tailor promising practices for increasing adult enrollment and completion by partnering with postsecondary institutions across Michigan” and will “provide a data-driven, objective perspective on what actually works” in pursuit of this goal.

As part of the GO2UO program, students will be able to seamlessly continue on to earn a bachelor degree from the University of Olivet following the completion of an associate degree at Glen Oaks Community College. This will be done via integrated support services on behalf of both schools, flexible course scheduling options, and online coursework. The University of Olivet will hire a Student Services Coordinator who will be dedicated solely to working with adult students and Glen Oaks Community College will hire a Career and Transfer Coordinator who will focus on bringing adult students through the GO2UO program.

“This collaboration between GOCC and UO is a model for how community colleges and universities can work together to support adult students. Through this program, we can provide adults with a more flexible and affordable pathway to a bachelor’s degree, helping them advance their careers and achieve their goals,” said Paul Burkhardt, the provost of the University of Olivet.

Another aspect of the GO2UO program is the collaboration of the two institutions that will lead to career pathways that will benefit the region’s workforce. In particular, partnerships will be made with local industry and employers in the fields of criminal justice, business, and social work.

“Our partnership with UO allows us to connect students with opportunities that might have seemed out of reach before while also contributing to the local economy by providing a skilled workforce,” said Cloutier.

Meredith Dodson, the Dean for Graduate, Adult, and Professional Studies at the University of Olivet, echoed Cloutier’s sentiments, saying, “The GO2UO program enables us to continue our mission of creating pathways to success for students who might otherwise face barriers to earning a bachelor’s degree. Together with GOCC, we are creating a sustainable model that can serve as a blueprint for other institutions across Michigan.”

According to a press release on its website, the Michigan Center for Adult College Success provided a total of $6,442,506 in its Innovation Investment Awards to 11 institutions in total. In addition to Glen Oaks Community College and the University of Olivet, the recipients were Central Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, Jackson College, Monroe County Community College, Muskegon Community College, Northern Michigan University, Wayne State University, Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo Valley Community College.

For more information about Glen Oaks Community College, visit the school’s website.

For more information about the University of Olivet, visit the school’s website.