U.P. colleges share in statewide grant
The State of Michigan’s Martin Luther King-Cesar Chávez-Rosa Parks (KCP) Initiative has been awarded a seven-year, $46 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to increase the number of low-income and under-represented students who enter and succeed in postsecondary education.
The Gaining Early Awareness & Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) grant will help prepare and support 10,000 students in 49 school districts throughout Michigan for college careers.
“For Michigan to thrive, we must tap the intellectual resources of all of our citizens,” said Dianne Duthie, Director of the Education and Career Success Division of the state’s Workforce Development Agency. “This grant will allow us to help thousands of Michigan kids make it into college and get the education they’ll need to take advantage of Michigan’s emerging economy.”
The Michigan legislature established the KCP Initiative in 1986 to address low participation and graduation rates among Michigan’s academically and economically challenged students.
The federal grant will fund Michigan GEAR UP (MI GEAR UP), a collaborative effort of the state of Michigan, Michigan’s 15 public universities, and a range of college access organizations to meet a set of commonly-held goals, including:
Educating parents, students, educators and administrators on the benefits and accessibility of a college education through a variety of strategies including support for guidance counseling, technical assistance, and college visits.
Improving students’ academic standards and expectations for college through participation in advanced classes, tutoring, mentoring, advising, summer programs/institutes and professional development.
Increasing MI GEAR UP students and family understanding of college education options, preparation, and financing through financial aid workshops, publications, and collaboration with Michigan Promise Zones.
Michigan’s public universities will implement the grant in partnership with the KCP Initiative, and will provide matching funds in support of KCP programs. MI GEAR UP’s university partners are:
Central Michigan University
Oakland University
Eastern Michigan University
Saginaw Valley State University
Ferris State University
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
Grand Valley State University
University of Michigan – Dearborn
Lake Superior State University
University of Michigan – Flint
Michigan State University
Wayne State University
Michigan Technological University
Western Michigan University
Northern Michigan University
In addition to the universities, the following partners will contribute to the program goals: EduGuide, Michigan College Access Network (MCAN), Michigan Campus Compact (MCC), Michigan Department of Education (MDE), Michigan Department of Treasury Office of Scholarships & Grants (OSG) and The University of Michigan – School of Social Work (UM-SSW), College of Engineering – Center for Educational Diversity and Outreach (CEDO) and the Center for Educational Outreach (CEO).
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation, a public-private partnership serving as the state’s marketing arm and lead agency for business, talent and jobs, focuses on helping grow Michigan’s economy. For more on the MEDC and its initiatives, visit: www.MichiganAdvantage.org.