Muskegon Community College among 31 community colleges in Michigan to participate in new Michigan Corrections Officer Grant Program

People who work in Michigan as corrections officers who need college credits can now attend any of Michigan’s 31 community colleges without the burden of tuition, thanks to a new grant program through the Michigan Community College Association.

As of now, it is a state law in Michigan that state correction officers must complete 15 college credits before they can be employed. In order to assist officers meet this requirement, the Michigan Community College Association has established the Michigan Corrections Officer Grant Program which will pay tuition fees at any of its community colleges. This grant program is funded through the 2023 Fiscal Year State Budget.

In an article from Muskegon Community College, MCCA’s President Brandy Johnson talked about the reasoning behind this new grant program, saying, “Corrections officers are critical to the safety of our communities and Michigan community colleges are pleased to make it easier for them to obtain the credit they need. Our colleges are located in every corner of the state, making them more accessible for learners that are working and attending classes at the same time. This grant program removes barriers to success for our state’s corrections officers.”   

Corrections officers looking to take advantage of the Michigan Corrections Officer Grant Program’s free tuition must meet the following criteria: they must be an employee of the Michigan Department of Corrections, have received less than 15 college credits already, they must be approved for the grant program by the Michigan Department of Corrections, and they must enroll in a Michigan community college.

Michigan Department of Corrections Director Heidi Washington talked about the expected benefits of this new grant program, saying, “This grant program is going to make a huge difference for corrections officers needing to complete their education requirements. The ability for our officers to complete their credits at any of the 31 community colleges tuition free is a great opportunity.”  

More information about the Michigan Corrections Officer Grant Program can be found at the Michigan Community College Association website.

The Michigan Community College Association is an organization that operates as a collective voice for the community colleges in Michigan. It works to empower its member schools to lead in the areas of community vitality, talent development, and student success. The Michigan Community College Association also works to strengthen public recognition and awareness of the role and benefits of community colleges, while supporting members in providing training and education that is aware of, and responsive to, the changing needs of the labor market. MCCA is focused on fostering partnerships, connection, and collaboration among all of Michigan’s community colleges and their stakeholders. More information about the Michigan Community College Association can be found at the organization’s website. 

The Michigan Department of Corrections is one of the main state departments with the responsibility of overseeing Michigan’s prisons as well as the probation and parole systems and the Michigan Parole board and reentry services. The Michigan Department of Corrections operates with the goal of long term public safety, which it aims to provide through training dedicated corrections professionals who use evidence based programs and practices such as job training and education in hopes of creating individual success and lower recidivism. More information about the Michigan Department of Corrections can be found on the department’s website.