making equity an integral part of michigan's college access & success strategy

04/21/23micollegeaccess.org

NCAN Annual Conference, St. LouisSeptember 14, 2011

Facilitator: Brandy Johnson, MCAN

Nanette Reynolds, Ed.D.Co-founder, The Imagine

FundConsultant, MCAN

Chuck WilburSenior Policy

Consultant, PPAPromise Zone Project


Brandy, Chuck & Nanette


Brandy JohnsonExecutive Director

Michigan College Access Network


2010 Michigan Total State Population by Race: 9,883,640


Michigan Data

•5.3 million working age adults (25-64)

•More than 35% have at least a 2 year degree

•Closing the attainment gap between first generation, low income and students of color will require “concerted and strategic efforts over many years”

A Stronger Nation Through Higher Education, Lumina Foundation for Education (Sept. 2010), pg. 54


If all racial/ethnic groups in Michigan had the same educational attainment and earnings as whites, total annual personal income in the state would be about $12 billion higher. (Measuring Up, 2008)

04/21/23micollegeaccess.orgSource: ACT Profile Report - Michigan, 2011

04/21/23micollegeaccess.orgSource: Tom Mortenson, Postsecondary Education Opportunity, Updated 2011


Source: NCHEMS, 2009

04/21/23micollegeaccess.orgSource: NCEMS, 2009


Nanette Reynolds, Ed.DCo-founder, The Imagine Fund

Consultant, MCAN


Chuck WilburSenior Policy Consultant, PPA

Promise Zone Project


How could Michigan, given its challenged fiscal environment, spark

the creation of local promises in communities struggling with high

rates of poverty and unemployment?


Each Promise Zone funds its scholarships through three sources

Students must file the FAFSA and accept Pell grants and other needs based aid--Promise Zones are able to capture half the future growth in a state property tax within their boundaries--Promise Zones raise funds from foundations, businesses, individuals and community organizations


Three Promise Zones—Baldwin, Benton Harbor and Pontiac are already providing scholarships to students in their communities

Six Promise Zones—Battle Creek, Detroit, Hazel Park, Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw plan to begin providing scholarships to the Class of 2012


1. Develop a culture of learning in high poverty areas

2. Increase the number of Michigan residents with college degrees

3. Create stronger economies in our core cities and other distressed areas

4. Strengthen cities by attracting and retaining families that place a premium on education


Promise Zones are limited to communities that have above average poverty rates

The Promise Zone communities have high levels of unemployment and high concentrations of low income families

The Promise Zone communities also have low levels of educational attainment that make them less attractive to knowledge-based businesses


16 percent of the state’s children live in Promise Zones… but 35 percent of those children receiving public assistance

Almost 60 percent of the state’s African-American children and a quarter of the state’s Latino children live in Promise Zones.

Only 23% of the adults in the Promise Zones have an Associate Degree or higher, compared to 36% statewide.


Nanette Reynolds, Ed.D.Co-founder, The Imagine Fund

Consultant, MCAN


A Stronger Nation Through Higher Education, Lumina Foundation for Education, pg. 54


We’re flying the plane while building it, but are pleased to share our vision and hopes, activities to date, and next steps with you today!


1. Planning

2. Initial integration of equity into

practice

3. MCAN Board education and

action

4. Implementation, measurement

and accountability


1. Planning• MCAN director articulated

importance of a diversity focus

• Presented workshop at MCAN

conference

• Formed MCAN team of three

• Appointed Ad Hoc Group on Equity

• Conferred with others; engaged in

research

• Drafted vision statement

• Decided to focus initially on LCANs


Equal access and opportunities to education are the foundation of a just and equitable society. Attainment of a college degree or valuable credential enhances one’s quality of life. There is a compelling sense of urgency to increase college enrollment, retention and graduation for students of color in Michigan and achieving this objective requires collective impact.

As an inclusive organization, the Michigan College Access Network recognizes the importance of closing college attainment gaps as our state aspires to reach its big goal of 60% college attainment by 2025.

Accordingly, MCAN is committed to infusing and imbedding diversity into its comprehensive college access strategy. Only in this way can Michigan be assured of the educated, competitive and diverse work force requisite for our state’s economic resurgence and long term vitality.


Picking up steam…

•Chose 7 LCANs to participate in pilot

•Administered demographic survey

•Developed and administered equity scans

to pilots

•Conducted site visits to pilot LCANs•Conferred with our MI College Advising Corps teams

•Shared updates in MCAN newsletter


Advisory Council or Staff or Volunteers or Students, etc.: Number of advisory council/leadership team members (actual count): ____

Gender: Number of Males ____

Number of Females ____

Race & Ethnicity: Ethnicity: ____ Hispanic or Latino Race: ____ American Indian or Alaskan Native ____ Asian

____ Black or African American ____ Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander ____ White

Total ____

Please use this space if explanation is necessary:


St. Clair County

Bay County

Battle Creek

Muskegon Holland/Zeeland

Benton Harbor

Baldwin


Chosen for varying characteristics, including:

Demographics

Geographic location

Philanthropic support in community

Size

Socio-economic measures

Stage of development

Affiliation with Promise Zone (4 of 7)

…to ensure applicability of future MCAN equity expectations and strategies


2. Initial Integration of Equity into Practice – LCAN

Focused •Developing graphic model

•Identifying information and resources to support equity work •Conceptualizing specific equity goals, action steps and evaluation plan

•Aligning RFPs and reports to equity concept

•Collaborating with MCAN’s evaluator, again for alignment


3. Board Education and Action

•Ownership and leadership

•Broaden the mission to students of color

•Support of MCAN’s gap reduction strategies and accountability measures with LCANs and MCAN Partners


Applying equity lens to MCAN Partners:

• Share commitment to closing equity gaps

• As appropriate, expand outreach to college students involved in programs which interface with LCAN students


• Policy & advocacy: Advocate for disaggregation of data in executive and legislative reforms aimed at raising college participation and graduation rates

• Professional development & TA: Comprehensive resources are available to support increasing the number of students of color attending and graduating from college


• K-12 education achievement gaps

• Autonomy of Michigan public institutions of higher education

• Mindset: “we serve everyone

equally”

Challenges/Opportunities


Proposed Impacts

•Commitment to diversity, equity & inclusion reflected in practice and day-to-day operations

•More students of color attending and graduating from college

•Reduction of postsecondary equity gaps


Brandy Johnson

making equity an integral part of michigan's college access & success strategy

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