On Oct. 3, Vester Waters, Manager of Adult Degree Completion for the Detroit Regional Chamber, and Amber Greenway Neher, the Chamber’s Director of Student Success and Postsecondary Partnerships, presented at the annual Detroit College Access Network (DCAN) Metro Detroit College Access and Success Conference at Lawrence Technological University.
Their session, “Detroit Reconnect: Advocating for Adult Learners in Southeast Michigan,” elevated information on the Chamber’s initiatives geared to help adults 21 and over from the Detroit Region to navigate their postsecondary options. Featuring a comprehensive team of adult learner advocates, Detroit Reconnect offers personalized support and college advising services, including assistance with school selection, career exploration, financial aid, and connecting learners with community partners who support families in and around Detroit. Detroit Reconnect is inclusive of students who are pursuing or returning to higher education through technical education, community college, universities, and many other routes. The session also demonstrated how the program utilizes data to drive our strategic planning, complements Michigan Reconnect, as well as how it partners with local institutions and organizations.
Detroit Reconnect represents one of several Detroit Drive Degrees strategies to boost postsecondary completion rates and meet Michigan’s goal of 60% credential attainment by the year 2030. Related work in support of adult learner attainment includes using a consistent approach to recognize prior learning at institutions, expanding debt-forgiveness regionally, and increasing the number of employers providing upskilling incentives to their employees.
For questions about Detroit Reconnect and related strategies, contact Vester Waters at vwaters@detroitchamber.com or Amber Greenway Neher at aneher@detroitchamber.com.
