The Detroit Regional Chamber is a member of the Michigan Higher Education Attainment Roundtable (MIHEART) and applauds the passage of the Michigan Achievement Scholarship. Below is a letter from MIHEART regarding this passage.
The Michigan Higher Education Attainment Roundtable (MIHEART) applauds the passage of the Michigan Achievement Scholarship. This program, which passed with bipartisan support, is a gamechanger and drastically expands opportunities for a majority of families across Michigan to access and afford college or other programs and will help ensure that Michigan’s students are qualified and prepared for the jobs of tomorrow.
We need to support postsecondary attainment and talent development as a state to help set students up for success, meet growing employer needs, attract new industries, and support economic development. This investment will help get our students back on track and fill gaps created since 2020. Michigan has lagged other states in our region in terms of higher education support and state higher education spending. This investment in our future will improve Michigan’s standing nationally. More than anything else, this investment will help increase the number of working-age adults in Michigan with a postsecondary certificate or college degree to 60% by 2030.“MIHEART advocates for solutions that reduce barriers to college attainment and strengthen Michigan’s talent pipeline,” said Ryan Fewins-Bliss, Michigan College Access Network executive director. “Our coalition includes business, nonprofit, philanthropy, PK–12 education, higher education and government leaders who are passionate about building and retaining talent in Michigan. By addressing the barrier of college affordability through investments like the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, we can move the state toward our shared Sixty by 30 goal and help build a brighter future for all Michiganders.”
Opportunity for Our Future
MIHEART came together in 2014 to raise awareness and advocate for more resources to be put toward improving the talent pipeline in Michigan. The members of MIHEART are committed to making Michigan a top ten state for educational attainment. Starting with the class of 2023, students across the state will have access to more opportunities. MIHEART’s members believe that by investing in college grants, such as the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, we, as a state, can grow enrollment, increase the number of graduates, reduce students’ reliance on debt, and provide students with more choices.
More Investments are Needed
However, there is still much that should be considered regarding the classes of 2020-22. More can and should be done to support educational attainment in Michigan. In particular, opening Michigan Reconnect to adults ages 21-24 is an action that would help address education gaps for students who were most impacted by the pandemic. Expanding the age restrictions is one way to help make education in Michigan more accessible for learners who have been left behind by previous investments.
Equipping All Michiganders With the Education and Skills Needed for Success in the Economy of Today and Tomorrow
MIHEART’s current membership includes key institutions and leaders committed to working together on an ongoing basis to increase attainment of postsecondary credentials of workforce value. The members include individuals from the following groups. Participation does not infer support for any specific position.
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