The grant comes from The Michigan Center for Adult College Success and will allow the institutions to help adult students facing barriers to their education utilize their Kalamazoo Promise funding.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Western Michigan University, and Kalamazoo Promise have received a grant from The Michigan Center for Adult College Success in the amount of $620,000. Via its Innovation Investment Awards, the Center has distributed more than $6 million in funding to colleges and universities across the state of Michigan to help working adult students find success in college and the workforce.
According to an article on Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s website, Katherine Miller, who serves as the director of career and continuing education at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, was quoted as saying, "Kalamazoo Valley is committed to supporting lifelong learning, and this partnership is a testament to that commitment. The success of our Kalamazoo Valley Accelerated Associate Program (KVAAP) has shown the impact of focused, wrap-around support for adult learners, and we are excited to bring that expertise to the Completing the Kalamazoo Promise initiative."
The Completing the Kalamazoo Promise initiative will help adults over the age of 25 who still have Kalamazoo Promise funds at their disposal yet have not been able to continue their education for any number of reasons, including barriers like lack of childcare, lack of transportation, or not being able to fit an education into their work schedule. Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Western Michigan University, and the Kalamazoo Promise will all be working together on this initiative beginning by the end of the year, and the first students who will be helped through the initiative are expected to begin classes in the Spring 2025 semester.
The Kalamazoo Promise is an initiative that was launched in 2005 to give students who reside within the Kalamazoo Public Schools district and graduate from any Kalamazoo Public High School free tuition to any of 60 participating colleges or universities in Michigan. There are working adults over the age of 25 who have not yet used their Kalamazoo Promise funding, and the Completing the Kalamazoo Promise initiative is designed to help them utilize them in order to earn a college degree or certificate.
Von Washington Jr., the CEO of The Kalamazoo Promise, said, "Institutional collaboration is key when it comes to finding innovative solutions for adult learners seeking continuing education. The world of work and life is constantly evolving, and it is essential that educational institutions keep up with these changes to meet the needs of their students. Our collaboration allowed for multiple perspectives and ideas to come together, leading to more comprehensive and effective solutions."
The grant will fund the hiring of two individuals to serve as Promise coordinators. These coordinators will help adult students overcome the barriers to their education, including childcare and transportation. They will also assist students with credit transfers and the re enrollment process if they had started their college journey previously.
Dr. Jason Glass, the associate vice president for teaching and learning at Western Michigan University, said, "This grant is a game-changer for our community. It allows us to directly address the barriers that have prevented adult learners from completing their education. By embedding dedicated Promise coordinators within The Kalamazoo Promise, we are creating a robust support system that will empower these individuals to achieve their academic and career goals."
The Michigan Center for Adult College Success works to further the goals of the state’s Sixty by 30 initiative, which aims to see 60% of Michigan’s working age population to have obtained a college degree or skill certificate by the year 2030.
For more information about Kalamazoo Valley Community College, visit the school’s website.
For more information about Western Michigan University, visit the school’s website.