Mid Michigan College receives Achieving the Dream grant from Ascendium Education Group
The grant will help the college expand its accelerated course options, giving students the ability to earn credentials more quickly and in a flexible manner.
Mid Michigan College has received an Achieving the Dream grant from Ascendium Education Group. The grant, which was awarded to 16 community colleges around the country, is intended to improve student outcomes and shorten the amount of time it takes students to complete credentials to give students access to credentials on a quick and efficient schedule.
According to an article on Mid Michigan College’s website, Amy Fisher, who serves as the college’s Dean of Business & Professional Studies, was quoted as saying, “This grant gives us the opportunity to rethink how we structure our courses so students can reach their goals faster with more flexibility. It’s all about helping more students succeed on a timeline that works for them. Our selection for this initiative underscores our continued commitment to innovation, access, and student-centered learning, which ensures more learners can achieve their goals on a timeline that works for their lives.”
Ascendium Education Group’s Achieving the Dream initiative aims to help community colleges shorten course completion times through an accelerated format, giving students enhanced access to credentials on a quicker and more flexible time frame. In accelerated time frames, students will be better able to manage their families, jobs, social lives, and schooling. The grant will allow the college to offer more accelerated 8-week programs, which it has been doing for some time with select technical and occupational courses. The Achieving the Dream grant will help open up accelerated options into general education courses, as well.
Due to the college’s participation in Achieving the Dream, it will have access to professional development opportunities, institutional support, and collaboration opportunities from Ascendium Education Group.
Scott Mertes, Mid Michigan College’s Provost and grant co-author alongside Fisher, noted, “We are very excited to partner with Achieving the Dream to expand these offerings. Research has shown that access to eight-week courses can improve student success, and that’s what we’re focused on here at Mid—helping our students achieve their goals.”
For more information about Mid Michigan College, visit the school’s website.