Learning and Impact
The Michigan Community College Association (MCCA) strategic plan, adopted in 2022, focuses on promoting equitable student success through policy, practice, and research. MCCA evaluates success by analyzing both leading indicators (college access and momentum) and lagging indicators (completion and career outcomes), using disaggregated data across demographics. In support of its vision for student success, MCCA established the Equitable Measures of Student Success to assess and enhance diverse student outcomes. The reports, publications, college spotlights and resources curated below emphasize the outcomes of leveraging practices that support student needs and provide information on ways to ensure equity for all students.
Elevated Readiness
Description:Elevated Readiness focuses on the essential functions of grant planning and writing, organized into three areas of work: Reflection, Evidence, and Design (RED). Alongside this framework stands college support through the crucial first 90-day period after a grant is awarded.
More Information
Finish Forward
Description: This initiative equips colleges with innovative strategies to enhance degree completion outcomes through automatic degree conferral and reverse transfer.
More Information
Leadership Academy
Description:The MCCA Leadership Academy stands as a beacon of professional development in the community college sector, dedicated to fostering the growth of emerging leaders throughout Michigan. Leadership Academy is a year-long learning journey that includes six live sessions and a capstone student success project and graduation experience in conjunction with the annual MCCA Student Success Summit
More Information
Local Heroes
Description: Local Heroes aims to create accessible college pathways through dual enrollment, certification programs, associate degree completion, and seamless transfer opportunities to four-year institutions. This initiative supports individuals who hold Bachelor's degrees in various disciplines to pursue an expedited and highly structured route to teacher certification.
More Information
MiMath Reform
Description: In partnership with Almy Education and Achieving the Dream, this project focuses on developmental mathematics reform in Michigan, refining corequisite implementation and enhancing corequisite teaching and learning.
More Information
A Step-By-Step Playbook for Michigan Community Colleges
February 2025
Description:This publication provides a step-by-step guide for Michigan community colleges exploring participation in the Food Assistance Employment & Training (FAE&T) Plus Program. This resource is designed to help colleges assess readiness and navigate program requirements that supports colleges with an increase in resources for basic needs supports.
Increasing Dual Enrollment Access and Success
July 2024
Description: This report summarizes the policy recommendations intended to better maximize dual enrollment opportunities for students.
Academic Catch-Up Programs
June 2024
Description: This report provides an in-depth look at the summer 2023 programs, including program components, case studies and emerging best practices of institutions that offer free summer programs focused on English and Mathematics, student success skills, campus resources, and career exploration.
Empowering Michigan's Workforce: How Michigan's Center for Student Success Connects Industry Credentials and Higher Education
November 2023
Description: This report focuses on implementing the statewide Strengthening MiWorkforce Pathways project. The explicit focus on credit for industry credentials provides a framework for state-level strategies supporting community colleges’ efforts to improve student completion rates.
A Foundation and A Fire: Stregthening Humanities
October 2023
Description: In this report, the authors present findings from research on humanities coursetaking at Michigan community colleges conducted as part of the Strengthening Michigan Humanities (MiHumanities) project.
Leveraging the Coalition of the Willing for Student Success in Michigan
January 2023
Description: This article provides a political and historical context for the center’s founding, explores the center’s accomplishments, and concludes by discussing considerations for coalition leaders in other states.
2022 Developmental Education Scale of Adoption Assessment
September 2022
Description: This publication describes the scale of implementation of practices including corequisite delivery of developmental support for English composition, implementation of and support for mathematics pathways, and revised placement processes.
Supporting the Whole Student: Growing Basic Need Supports at Michigan Community Colleges
September 2022
Description: This report highlights contributing factors to Michigan community colleges establishing sustainable systems of practice that support the holistic needs of students.
The Intersection of Economic Stability and Student Success (March 2021)
Points of Pride: Transfer Progress in Michigan (February 2021)
Organizing, Supporting, and Continuing Guided Pathways in Michigan (September 2020)
Following Where #MIFACULTYLEAD (September 2020)
Keeping Colleges on the Path: A Look at Michigan’s Guided Pathways Progress from 2017-2019 (September 2019)
Postsecondary Transfer and Mobility in Michigan: Exploring Transfer Patterns, Programs, Places, and People (August 2019)
Building METC Degree Bridge Partnerships in Michigan (Fall 2019)
Guided Pathways: The Scale of Adoption in Michigan (January 2018)
Skills Builders in Michigan Community Colleges (October 2017)
Michigan Credit When It's Due Digital Communication Kit (October 2017)
Tracking Transfer: CEPI's 2015-16 College Transfers Report (April 2017)
Supporting Guided Pathways in Michigan: Lessons Learned from Cohort I (March 2017)
A Resource Guide on Translating Military Competencies into Academic Credit (December 2016)
The Accelerated Learning Program in Michigan (November 2016)
The Right Math at the Right Time: Addressing Mathematics Challenges Facing Michigan Colleges and Universities (October 2016)
Tracking Transfer: Sessions Featured at the Student Success Summit (October 2016)
Guided Pathways Cohort I: Progress and Success (September 2016)
Lessons Learned from Michigan's Project Win-Win (September 2016)
Project Win-Win Practice Guide (September 2016)
Tracking Transfer: June Issue (June 2016)
Tracking Transfer: May Issue (May 2016)
Tracking Transfer: April Issue (April 2016)
Using Multiple Measures for Placement in College Composition (April 2016)
Using Multiple Measures for Placement in Mathematics (April 2016)
Forging New Pathways: The Impact of the Breaking Through Initiative in Michigan (November 2012)
Autonomy and Innovation: Systemic Change in a Decentralized State (October 2012)