LANSING, Mich. — Seventy-two Michigan high schools have been selected to host college advisers through the Michigan College Access Network’s (MCAN) AdviseMI AmeriCorps program for the 2020-21 school year. This is the sixth year of the AdviseMI program, which places recent college graduates in high schools to help students navigate the process. Since 2015, AdviseMI has had 164 advisers serve in the program.
Fifty-six advisers will serve 72 high schools, with some advisers splitting their time between two high schools, allowing for a broader reach in communities across the state. AdviseMI aims to increase the number of high school students who pursue education beyond high school. The AmeriCorps program embeds well-trained, near-peer college advisers into high schools across Michigan, particularly in communities with low college-going rates and low adult educational attainment rates.
The average Michigan high school counselor is assigned over 700 students, making it difficult to provide the individualized attention necessary to help students identify which postsecondary education options are the right fit. AdviseMI advisers collaborate with high school counselors to bridge the gap in college exploration by helping students navigate the complex transition from high school to a postsecondary education institution.
College advisers will be ready to serve when the school year starts in fall 2020 at host sites selected to participate in AdviseMI. Advisers undergo an intensive four-week training. After completing the training, they will be ready to help students navigate the complex college exploration process, retake college admissions tests, apply to colleges that are a fit, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), secure financial aid and enroll in a postsecondary institution.
“The 72 schools that will host these well-trained advisers are the perfect complement to the hard work of school counselors working to increase the college-going rate in communities across the state,” said Ryan Fewins-Bliss, MCAN executive director. “Recent college graduates are able to effectively serve as advisers by demystifying the college-going process because it’s a path they recently traveled themselves.”
The advisers will be recent graduates from a record number 18 partner colleges, including Adrian College, Albion College, Aquinas College, Baker College, Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Ferris State University, Lake Superior State University, Kalamazoo College, Madonna University, Northern Michigan University, Oakland University, Saginaw Valley State University, Siena Heights University, University of Michigan- Dearborn, University of Michigan-Flint, Wayne State University and Western Michigan University.
Please find the complete list of the 72 high schools selected through a competitive review process to receive the 56 college advisers here [michigancollegeaccessnetwork.app.box.com]. High schools new to the program are indicated by an asterisk.
Amidst the uncharted territories of the COVID-19 pandemic, AdviseMI advisers are continuing their work to help high school students — especially seniors — navigate their path to college. They are relying on virtual calls, email and texting to help their students finalize their college plans. They continue to share resources and tools to keep them on track.
ADVISER RECRUITMENT UNDERWAY
The AdviseMI Program is currently recruiting recent college graduates to serve as 2020-21 college advisers. For more information, prospective candidates should visit micollegeaccess.org/adviser [micollegeaccess.org].
ABOUT THE MICHIGAN COLLEGE ACCESS NETWORK (MCAN)
As the leader in the state’s college access movement, MCAN works to improve the futures of Michigan’s students and communities by making college accessible to all. MCAN’s work centers on one main goal: To increase Michigan’s postsecondary educational attainment rate to 60% by 2030. MCAN engages partners statewide who are committed to systems-level change and the reduction of barriers to increase college readiness, participation and completion rates, particularly among low-income students, first-generation college-going students, and students of color. MCAN has helped Michigan’s postsecondary attainment rate increase for the 10th consecutive year. For more information, visit micollegeaccess.org [micollegeaccess.org].
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