October 15, 2024
Grand Rapids Community College has been awarded $69,850 from the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education Advancement and Potential (MiLEAP) through its Student Success Grant Program. GRCC will use the grant to expand access to basic needs support and improve services offered to students who plan to transfer to another institution to continue their education.
The Student Success Grant program is part of a new $45 million student success effort, which marks the state’s first ever grant program aimed at increasing student success rates at Michigan community and tribal colleges and universities.
“We are honored to receive this grant from the State of Michigan, which will help us expand essential support services for our students, thereby removing barriers they face on their academic journey,” said Sheila Jones, provost and executive vice president of academic and student affairs. “This grant will help us create a more equitable and supportive academic environment and ensure that more of our students have the tools and support they need to thrive and complete their degrees.”
GRCC will use the funding to remove financial and logistical barriers for students. These efforts align with Michigan’s ambitious Sixty by 30 goal to have 60% of working-age adults obtain a college degree or skill certificate by 2030.
Key initiatives supported by the grant include:
- Expanding capacity to continue to provide basic needs support to students and to identify and address gaps in service
- Offering students more robust, transfer support to improve retention and completion
“MiLEAP is proud to partner with our state’s institutions of higher education to support innovative programs that improve student success and postsecondary credential attainment, as we work together to meet Michigan’s Sixty by 30 goal,” said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, director of MiLEAP. “Grant recipients demonstrated through a competitive process that they are committed to supporting their students on their path to prosperity, and we are eager to see the impact on campuses across the state for years to come.”
The Student Success Grants are part of a broader state strategy to fund opportunities for public colleges and universities to change institutional practices that will dramatically increase student graduation rates. GRCC is one of several institutions across the state receiving funding to implement innovative programs that empower student success.
This story was reported by Amy Soper.