We’re getting an inside look at college attainment and post-secondary training completion data from the Lumina Foundation’s new interactive tool, A Stronger Nation: Learning Beyond High School Builds American Talent.
We’re getting an inside look at college attainment and post-secondary training completion data from the Lumina Foundation’s new interactive tool, A Stronger Nation: Learning Beyond High School Builds American Talent.
Due to the changing workforce and need for a strong talent pipeline, the Lumina Foundation has a goal to see 60 percent of Americans with college degrees, workforce certificates or other high-quality credentials by 2025.
However, the new report shows the current state of those with such degrees and credentials in the U.S. is at 46.9 percent, an improvement of 9 percent since 2008 but it still reflects more work is needed.
The Michigan data
Michigan's overall rate of educational attainment has increased by 8.1 percent since 2008.
In Michigan, our attainment rate for certificates, associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees and graduate or professional degrees for adults 25-64 is still below the national average at nearly 44 percent.
Breaking it down demographically:
“Educational opportunity – particularly attainment of credentials beyond high school – is key to reducing economic and social inequality,” the report states, noting that while there has been progress since 2008 disparities still exist.
There are efforts underway across Michigan from our state and local governments, businesses and foundations to provide better access and opportunities to college and post-secondary training.
CMF members are passionately working in this area and it would be impossible to capture all of the successful strategies they’re utilizing but here are a few recent highlights from members:
The Complete Your Degree (CYD) program, recently launched by the Community Foundation of St. Clair County with support from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, places “an emphasis on providing life needs support, well above the normal tuition, books and supplies, for non-traditional students, young adults and working-class families to enable them to complete a college degree or training program in skilled trades.” According to the community foundation, the additional funding available through the CYD program may cover short-term expenses such as transportation, food, medical care, daycare, and even housing.
The Flint Promise scholarship, supported in part by the Consumers Energy Foundation, officially launches its first-ever application process on March 1. The last-dollar scholarship model will cover all remaining costs for a Flint student to earn an associate degree or certificate from Mott Community College. Once completed, recipients are automatically eligible to attend the University of Michigan-Flint and extend the scholarship. The Community Foundation of Greater Flint helped to lead the initiative with input from a stakeholder group.
In Detroit, The Jamie and Denise Jacob Family Foundation and the McGregor Fund recently hosted a Post-Secondary Success peer network breakfast for organizations in the Detroit area which support first-generation students to and through college and/or into jobs. The group included nonprofits, high schools and colleges, who gathered for this inaugural learning community to discuss what’s working and next steps.
Kellogg Community College, (the foundation arm is a CMF member), recently announced a new initiative that’s aimed at connecting teens and adults to workforce training, especially in technical skills. It’s supported by a grant from W.K. Kellogg Foundation and will focus on “serving vulnerable neighborhoods and people of color, who historically have been marginalized and endured higher rates of unemployment and socioeconomic distress.”
The Office of Foundation Liaison (OFL) has been engaging CMF members in career and technical education (CTE) site visits to experience first-hand programs that are connecting Michigan residents with workforce training.
Save the date to join OFL for another CTE site visit on April 13 in Alpena, more details coming soon.
Want more?
Check out A Stronger Nation: Learning Beyond High School Builds American Talent.
View the Michigan data.
Connect with CMF’s P-20 Education Affinity Group.
Dive into MLive’s county by county database of high school and college attainment data.
