WMU honored for college access and advising work

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—For the second consecutive year, Western Michigan University has been honored by the Michigan College Access Network—MCAN—for its work in expanding and ensuring college access and success.

WMU President John M. Dunn and the presidents of 11 other universities in Michigan were honored March 8 as co-recipients of MCAN's 2016 Beacon Award. They were lauded for being partners in AdviseMI, an effort that places highly trained, near-peer college advisors in high-need schools to boost the schools' capacity to serve students during the college selection and application process. Four recent WMU alumni were placed in schools around the state last summer through the program.

In 2015, MCAN honored WMU with the Steward Award for developing a master's-level training course for its students preparing for a school counseling career, launching the Journal of College Access and offering college counseling course work for in-service professionals serving as school counselors.

About MCAN

The Michigan College Access Network is focused on increasing the number of Michigan students enrolling in, persisting through and completing postsecondary educational credentials. Organization officials say 38.4 percent of the state's residents have such credentials, and MCAN aims to increase the proportion to 60 percent by the year 2025.

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