Project Overview

With generous support from our funder, ECMC Foundation, the OH–MI Basic Needs Initiative is a multi-year partnership supporting community colleges in Michigan and Ohio as they build coordinated, data-informed basic needs systems that improve student retention, course success, and completion. This initiative is ideally suited to colleges that offer basic needs services but seek a more proactive and strategic approach to services that lead to improved student outcomes.

The twelve participating colleges will receive a $50,000 stipend and structured support from subject-matter experts, peer coaches, and cross-state learning networks. Through this initiative, colleges will design centralized basic needs hubs, strengthen partnerships with community-based organizations, integrate state and federal benefit programs, and use data to understand which supports most effectively remove barriers to student success.

Benefits to Project Engagement

$50,000 stipend to support project participation
Expert-led professional development, including 8 virtual workshops and 3 in-person convenings
Hands-on coaching from colleges with strong basic needs models
Support in building partnerships with community-based organizations and state/federal benefit providers
Data tools and guidance to track usage and link supports to DFW rates, retention, and other student success metrics
A clear, actionable implementation plan for the 2027–28 academic year

Steps to Participate

Review the Initiative: Colleges explore the project overview, goals, expectations, and timeline to determine institutional readiness for participation.
Complete the Application: Colleges submit a short application (approx. 30 minutes) including student survey results, links to basic needs webpages, partnerships, and a statement of leadership support. Submit: College Application to Participate
Participate in an Interview: Selected colleges meet with MCCA and OACC staff for a 60-minute readiness and fit interview. Interview questions focus on institutional commitment, student needs, existing partnerships, data capacity, and alignment with student success priorities.
Selection and Onboarding: Twelve colleges are chosen based on readiness, leadership commitment, capacity, and alignment with project goals. Selected colleges sign an MOU and prepare for Year 1 convenings.
Participate in Convenings and Workshops: Colleges complete eight virtual workshops and three in-person convenings to develop a full basic needs implementation plan for 2027–28.
Implement the Ideal Model: During Year 3, colleges launch their basic needs centers, strengthen partnerships, expand public benefit access, implement communications strategies, train faculty and staff, and begin tracking service usage and student outcomes

Who should Apply?

This project is ideally suited to ccolleges that:

Address student basic needs as a strategy to improve student outcomes.
Have taken steps to understand their students’ basic needs challenges.
Currently provide some basic needs services to students even if those services are decentralized and/or untracked.
Have institutional research capacity to calculate DFW rates, retention, and other metrics for both students that receive basic needs supports and comparison groups.

Participation Timeline

Interested institutions must submit a brief application and will be considered for a follow-up interview. Colleges demonstrating readiness, leadership support, and capacity to link basic needs services with student outcomes will be prioritized.

January 16, 2026: College application and Consultant Request for Proposals are released, and the project is announced.
January 30, 2026: Consultants may submit any questions regarding the Request for Proposals, express interest in responding to the RFP, and request to receive responses to submitted questions. All inquiries and expressions of interest can be submitted to Precious Miller, Program Director, at (pmiller@mcca.org).
February 3, 2026: Responses to submitted Consultant RFP questions are made available to all consultants who expressed interest.
February 13, 2026: College applications and Consultant RFP submissions are due. Rolling interviews for colleges may begin as applications are received.
March 2026: Participating colleges are selected and notified. MOUs are signed and teams are formed.
April–May 2026: Selected colleges complete a pre-assessment and prepare for project launch.

Stipend: $50,000 per participating institution
Application Link: College Application: OH-MI Advancing Student Success Through Basic Needs Initiative – Fill out form

Want More Information?

Contact Precious Miller at pmiller@mcca.org