Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo Valley Community College and The Kalamazoo Promise receive $620,000 grant to help working-age students earn postsecondary credentials

Contact: Erin Flynn
November 14, 2024

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—The Michigan Center for Adult College Success has awarded a grant of $620,000 to support Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo Valley Community College and The Kalamazoo Promise’s efforts to help more working-age adults obtain the postsecondary degrees that open doors to opportunity in a knowledge-based economy.

The grant was one of nine awarded through The Center’s competitive $6.4 million Innovation Investment Awards program. WMU, Kalamazoo Valley and The Kalamazoo Promise will use the funding to support the Completing the Kalamazoo Promise initiative, a collaborative effort aimed at reengaging adult learners in the Kalamazoo area who have remaining, unused Kalamazoo Promise dollars.

The Completing the Kalamazoo Promise initiative focuses on recruiting and supporting individuals aged 25 and older, who have yet to complete their college education despite being eligible for Kalamazoo Promise funds. The grant will fund the hiring of two Promise coordinators who will provide personalized support to eligible adult learners, helping them navigate the complexities of reenrollment, credit transfer and overcoming barriers such as child care, transportation and financial challenges.

“This grant is a game-changer for our community,” says Dr. Jason Glass, associate vice president for teaching and learning at Western Michigan University. “It allows us to directly address the barriers that have prevented adult learners from completing their education. By embedding dedicated Promise coordinators within The Kalamazoo Promise, we are creating a robust support system that will empower these individuals to achieve their academic and career goals.”

This initiative also has significant implications for the local economy. By reengaging students aged 25 and older and helping them complete their degrees or certificates, the program will increase the pool of qualified workers in high-demand fields, directly supporting the growth of industries such as health care, manufacturing and information technology in Kalamazoo County.

“Kalamazoo Valley is committed to supporting lifelong learning, and this partnership is a testament to that commitment,” says Katherine Miller, director of career and continuing education at Kalamazoo Valley. “The success of our Kalamazoo Valley Accelerated Associate Program (KVAAP) has shown the impact of focused, wrap-around support for adult learners, and we are excited to bring that expertise to the Completing the Kalamazoo Promise initiative.”

The initiative is set to launch later this year, with the first cohort of adult learners expected to begin their journey toward completing their educational goals in the spring 2025 semester.

“Institutional collaboration is key when it comes to finding innovative solutions for adult learners seeking continuing education,” says Von Washington Jr., chief executive officer at The Kalamazoo Promise. “The world of work and life is constantly evolving, and it is essential that educational institutions keep up with these changes to meet the needs of their students. Our collaboration allowed for multiple perspectives and ideas to come together, leading to more comprehensive and effective solutions.”

Funded by the state legislature and administered by The Center, the Innovation Investment Awards support bold advances toward Michigan’s Sixty by 30 goal to increase the number of working-age adults with a skill certificate or college degree from 51.1% today to 60% by 2030.

“Congratulations to Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, The Kalamazoo Promise and all the grantees for recognizing that knowledge and skills are the currencies of the modern employment market,” says Kevin Stotts, president of TalentFirst, which launched The Center in 2023. “Employer demand for well-trained workers is only going to grow. Helping more adults obtain postsecondary credentials is how we open the door of opportunity for Michigan families.”

As detailed in The Center’s 2023 landscape analysis, Adult Postsecondary Education in Michigan, adult students face more complicated obstacles to completion than recent high school graduates, including balancing family and work responsibilities.

“It is exciting to see how these grant proposals took systemic approaches to addressing the barriers adult learners face,” says Jeremy Hendges, executive director of The Center. “These evidence-based, innovative approaches are what we need in order to provide adults with a college environment that will support them in obtaining the degrees and credentials they need to succeed.”

Many of the proposals got their start in another innovation: the Michigan-Regional Adult Initiative for Skills and Education Design Lab, created by The Center to provide an environment for college and university leaders to devise systemic improvements to the ways they serve working-age students.

The Center will continue working with grantees as they launch their initiatives—and to share insights that can benefit adult students and postsecondary institutions statewide.

“These awards are just the beginning of a transformation we need to continue driving across Michigan,” says Todd Gustafson, chair of The Center’s Governing Council and president and CEO of Kinexus. “This is an opportunity for everyone to win: postsecondary institutions, employers and the families across Michigan.”

Learn more about the Innovation Investment Awards and see the full list of grantees online. 

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