News
MCAN shares the latest data, research, and resources from the field so that educators, leaders, and partners are empowered with knowledge that is relevant to their work.
News
Press Releases
Higher Education Innovation
MCAN partners with EAB to launch statewide direct admission program
August 12, 2026
Michigan College Access Network is proud to announce MI College Match, a new partnership with education company EAB and Michigan higher education institutions to roll out a statewide, next-generation direct admission program.
High School Innovation
Steelcase Foundation awards $160,000 grant to MCAN to boost college attainment in West Michigan
July 7, 2026
MCAN is proud to announce it has received a two-year, $160,000 grant from the Steelcase Foundation to fund the Kent County Attainment Accelerator, a place-based initiative designed to expand and strengthen college access and success efforts already underway across the region.
All Areas of Work
MCAN applauds continued commitment to education in fiscal year 2027 state budget
July 3, 2026
Earlier today, the Michigan legislature passed its fiscal year 2027 budget bills, which the governor is expected to sign. Michigan College Access Network is excited to see increased funding for K-12 and higher education, continuing vital investments in our students.
Blogs
High School Innovation
Skilled and Educated: How David Urlaub is Connecting Career Preparation with Lifelong Learning
August 11, 2026
For 20 years, David Urlaub has helped students at the Bay-Arenac ISD Career Center imagine what life after high school could look like. As a student counselor and the center’s lead SkillsUSA adviser, Urlaub works closely with 11th- and 12th-grade students as they explore careers, build technical skills, and consider the education they’ll need to reach their goals. His work is rooted in a simple belief: students shouldn’t have to choose between becoming skilled and becoming educated.
All Areas of Work
15 Years Forward: When Policy Meets Purpose | Michele Strasz
April 23, 2026
As director of the Capital Area College Access Network (CapCAN) and a leader at United Way South Central Michigan, Michele has spent her career at the intersection of community impact and public policy. As we reflect on 15 years of postsecondary progress through the lens of policy, Michele's story is exactly the one we want to tell.
All Areas of Work
Q&A with Ryan Fewins-Bliss: 15 Years of Policy & Progress
April 15, 2026
As MCAN celebrates its 15th anniversary, we sat down with Ryan to talk about policy — the wins, the work, and what it takes to move a state.
In the News
Adult Student Attainment
Michigan Reconnect scholarship program lowers eligibility age to 21
August 17, 2026
WILX
Michigan has lowered the eligibility age for its Michigan Reconnect scholarship program from 25 to 21, opening tuition-free college access to tens of thousands more residents. Michigan Reconnect is a scholarship that covers tuition for skilled trade programs at in-district community colleges. Applicants must be 21 years old, have lived in Michigan for a year, and hold a high school diploma with no prior college degree.
Higher Education Innovation
Michigan college students struggle with housing, food. Program aims to help
August 14, 2026
Bridge Michigan
In Michigan, 20% of college students have experienced food insecurity, 44% have grappled with housing insecurity and 47% have had unmet financial needs even after financial aid, according to a report released last year by the state’s Student Basic Needs Task Force.
Higher Education Innovation
New program eases college application process in Michigan
August 12, 2026
WLNS
The Michigan College Access Network is rolling out a new program to streamline the college application process. According to a news release, MI College Match, which MCAN created in partnership with EAB, an education and technology company, will ensure that participating students receive an offer to attend college without having to fill out a single application.