Lake Michigan College receives MiLEAP Breaking Barriers Direct to Students grant
The grant, which totals just under $100,000, will allow the college to provide assistance to students who are experiencing financial hardships and keep them enrolled in school.
Lake Michigan College has received a $99,954 Breaking Barriers Direct to Students grant from the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential. The grant will fund the college’s initiative to remove roadblocks that may keep students from accessing assistance when they experience financial hardships. The ultimate goal is to increase student success by making it easier for them to stay in school.
According to an article on Lake Michigan College’s website, Leslie Navarro, who serves as the Director of Student Well-Being & Accessibility and the lead on this project, was quoted as saying, “This is about removing roadblocks. Students who are in crisis don’t have time to navigate a complicated system. We’re making it easier for them to get what they need and stay enrolled. In situations where students are choosing between paying rent or buying groceries, timely support can mean the difference between staying enrolled and dropping out. This initiative reflects LMC’s leadership in removing barriers and creating clear, supported pathways to student success.”
The project will streamline the different sources of financial assistance that students can access during emergencies and combine them into one system. These sources include the Student Success Fund, Veterans Education Assistance Fund, Perkins Cost Assistance Fund, and the Barrier Grant, all of which can now be accessed via one application. Students who are experiencing financial hardships like food insecurity, childcare emergencies, housing instability, or the lack of ability to purchase course materials, can fill out one application to access funding from these sources. Students will then be able to monitor the status of their application through a new dashboard. Staff members from Financial Aid, Disability Services, Veteran Services, and Student Affairs will review the students’ applications and work together in a more coordinated fashion to get students the support they need more quickly.
In order for students to apply to access funding, they must fill out the application, demonstrate financial need such as proving eligibility for Pell funding, and provide documentation stating their urgent financial situation, such as a medical bill or an eviction notice. Students must also be actively enrolled in a degree-seeking program.
Dr. Ken Flowers, the college’s Executive Vice President, said, “Supporting student success and empowering students to overcome barriers is central to LMC’s mission, and we are strongly committed to continuing programs that prove effective in advancing those goals.”
For more information about Lake Michigan College, visit the school’s website.