Clear the Path

While Michigan has a slowly growing traditional school-age population, a relatively large proportion of adults in Michigan have some postsecondary education but have not attained a postsecondary degree or other credential of value. These adult residents can be tremendous assets to economic growth if Michigan can re-engage them in postsecondary education and see them earn credentials.

Helping these adults complete their credential means reaching out to adult learners and workers, communicating the importance of postsecondary education, and making it easier for working adults to access the financial aid, support services, and diverse learning delivery techniques that are available.

RECOMMENDATION

Target Adults Seeking to Complete Postsecondary Credentials

Michigan’s postsecondary education institutions must lead community-based outreach campaigns that over the next ten years will recruit half of the 1.5 million adults with limited postsecondary education to return and complete their degree. These efforts should include an “amnesty” on stale or expired credits, recognition of work-based learning experiences, and better utilization of the tremendous education benefit that Michigan’s businesses and labor unions have created for employees.

(Participation Work Group rec. 4,
Completion Work Group rec. 6)

News

• Granholm Says ‘Return to Learn Month’ Helps Citizens Increase Earning Power, Grow States Economy, States News Service (December 1, 2005)
• Governor Granholm Urges Citizens to Complete College Degrees, US States News (November 4, 2005)

Web Links

• Return to Learn Campaign
• Return to Learn Home Page