October 16, 2024
Grand Rapids Community College has been awarded $254,326 to increase its student emergency fund. The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education Advancement and Potential (MiLEAP) awarded the funds through the state’s Student Success Grant Program. GRCC will distribute the funds as emergency grants using its already existing process to assist students who are at risk of not continuing their education due to unexpected financial challenges.
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.
“Being awarded this grant underscores our commitment to student success and helps ensure that our students have access to the support and resources they need so they can focus on their education,” said David Lovell, interim dean of students. “Together, we are not just investing in our students’ education; we are empowering their future.”
GRCC’s initiative to remove financial and logistical barriers for students aligns with Michigan’s ambitious Sixty by 30 goal to have 60% of working-age adults obtain a college degree or skill certificate by 2030.
“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.