College Access Updates from the Governor’s Office

1. College Access Updates from the Governor’s Office MACRAO Summer Summit June 18, 2009 Brandy Johnson-Faith College Access Coordinator, Office of Governor Granholm

2. On the Agenda • Michigan Promise/Promise Zones • Michigan College Access Network • Michigan College Access Portal • Updates from CEPI – E-Transcripts/LDS

3. Michigan Promise? • Message from the Governor…

4. Promise Zones • Inspired by the Kalamazoo Promise • Economic Development Strategy disguised as a scholarship program • Communities with above-average youth poverty rates could apply • “Zone” could be a school district, city, ISD, township, or county

5. Promise Zones: What comes with the Promise? • Promise MUST include: • Funding sufficient to provide a student the tuition necessary to obtain an associate's degree at a community college in Michigan • Promise CAN include: • Funding sufficient to provide a student the tuition necessary to obtain a bachelor’s degree at a public postsecondary institution in Michigan or combination of public postsecondary institutions. • Funding sufficient to provide a student to attend a private college in an amount not to exceed the average tuition necessary to obtain a bachelor’s degree at all public universities in the state. • Funding for educational improvement activities designed to increases college readiness at public schools located in the promise zone.

6. Promise Zones: Who Gets the Promise? • A Promise must provide financial assistance to ALL students residing in the PZ and who graduate from a high school located within that zone. • Promise Zone may have some qualifications: • Prorated based on the number of years student has resided in the PZ/attended school in the PZ • Requirement that student maintain minimum GPA or classload • Limited to specific institutions.

7. Promise Zones • Must be last-dollar: “A requirement that graduates of a public high school or nonpublic high school exhaust all other known and available restricted grants for tuition and fees for postsecondary education provided by a federal, state, or local governmental entity, as determined by the board.”

8. Designated Promise Zones • Baldwin • Battle Creek • Benton Harbor • Detroit • Hazel Park • Jackson • Lansing • Muskegon • Pontiac • Saginaw

9. Next Steps for Promise Zones • Establish Promise Zone Authority • Create Promise Zone Development Plan • Raise necessary funds • Start awarding scholarships • After 2 years, Promise Zone begins to capture ½ of the growth in the SET to fund the Promise into perpetuity

10. Michigan College Access Network: Background • June 2008: State of Michigan applied and was awarded College Access Challenge Grant from U.S. Department of Education. Governor Granholm designated Michigan Department of Treasury to administer grant. • July 2008: Governor’s Office and Treasury convened first “College Access Working Group” to take stock of current MI college access resources/services/programs, identify areas of duplication, opportunities for collaboration, and geographic/programmatic gaps.

11. Michigan College Access Network: Background • August: Consulted with National College Access Network (NCAN) on best practices for other statewide college access collaboratives • September: Attended NCAN annual conference – learned about “gold standard” states networks – Ohio College Access Network (OCAN) and College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) • October-March: College Access Working Group continued to meet to plan these initiatives

12. Governor’s Education Summit April 28, 2009 Governor Granholm officially announces MCAN

13. MCAN GOAL: To significantly increase the college participation rate among low-income and first generation students. Michigan’s first coordinating body for college access programs. Will support community-based college access programs through advocacy, professional/program development, technical assistance, and funding opportunities.

14. MCAN Members Local college access programs that offer college access services to low-income first-generation students, including: • Advisory Services (Admissions and Financial Aid) • Last Dollar Scholarships • Resource Centers • Retention • Adult Learner Services • Early Awareness • Career Development

15. Michigan College Access Portal • Web-based one-stop-shop where students to plan, apply, and PAY for college. • Interactive, dynamic tool for families, counselors, educators, and other college access professionals to use to best serve Michigan Students. • Modeled after the College Foundation of North Carolina (www.cfnc.org).

16. Portal Functions • Career planning tools • Personal portfolio of high school courses, activities, awards, and test courses which will be auto-populated into online admissions applications • Information about transferring between Michigan higher education institutions • A tool to measure progress toward meeting college entrance requirements • Referrals to local college access programs in the student’s community • User-friendly profiles of Michigan colleges and universities, including side-by-side comparisons, virtual campus tours, and a matching assistant

17. More Portal Functions • Free ACT test preparation resources • Ability to submit all college-related documents online, including admissions applications, FAFSA, transcripts, loan applications, etc. • Opportunity to “ask an expert” on application-related questions • A tool to search for grant and scholarship opportunities • Ability to check status of student loans and get financial literacy tips • A tool to open or access a student’s 529 College Savings Plan Accounts

18. Timeline • RFP Process • Portal Development (Design Teams) • Beta Testing, Training • Portal Goes Live • Marketing and Outreach Efforts

19. Updates from CEPI E-TRANSCRIPT EXCHANGE CEPI will be working with a vendor to provide secure electronic transcript services for use in high schools and higher education institutions statewide.

20. Updates from CEPI E-TRANSCRIPT EXCHANGEP-16 LONGITUDIANL DATA SYSTEM By utilizing the state-issued UIC, the e-transcript exchange provides a link between K12 and Postsecondary records across the state. This enables the longitudinal tracking of students to occur. This will further efforts to implement a Michigan P-16 Longitudinal Data System. This will help MI monitor the # of MI students who attend and graduate college.

21. Updates from CEPI Message from CEPI: • Expands access • Goal is to provide the most flexible technical approach to the transfer process • High schools and colleges will not have to alter the technology they use locally for managing student records. • Contract will also ensure that the services are provided free of charge to all students, high schools and participating colleges and universities in the state.

22. Updates from CEPI P-16 LONGITUDINAL DATA SYSTEM • CEPI will work with state partners to plan LDS and document project requirements • Will use “10 essential elements of a LDS” • ARRA Assurances • Race to the Top Funds

23. Questions?

24. Contact Info • Brandy Johnson-Faith • College Access Coordinator • Office of the Governor, Policy Division • (517) 335-5113 • johnsonfaithb@michigan.gov