More than 100,000 Michiganders are on the route to a tuition-free college degree or skills certificate. | Matt Ragland/Unsplash
More than 100,000 Michiganders are on the route to a tuition-free college degree or skills certificate. | Matt Ragland/Unsplash
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) confirmed a milestone for the Michigan Reconnect program: over 100,000 applicants were accepted.
The "bipartisan effort is putting more working-age adults on [a] tuition-free path to high-demand, high-wage careers," according to a press release from the governor's office.
Whitmer established on Wednesday that as of the end of July, greater than 100,000 Michiganders are on the route to a tuition-free college degree or skills certificate as a result of the Michigan Reconnect program.
"More Michiganders are within reach of a college degree or skills certificate thanks to efforts like Michigan Reconnect," Susan Corbin, director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), said in the press release. "We are creating new opportunities for our workers to land high-paying jobs in fulfilling careers and for our Michigan businesses to fill critical talent needs so they can continue to compete, grow, and innovate."
Whitmer also spoke about the program.
"Michigan Reconnect is putting hard-working Michiganders on a tuition-free path to a brighter future," the governor said in the press release. "This bipartisan program is a game-changer not only for the people enrolled in the program, but also for their families, small businesses, and the state of Michigan. I am so proud of all 100,000 and counting Reconnect applicants. They have taken an important step to chase their dreams, learn new skills, and land a good-paying job to support themselves and their families. Because of their grit and determination, we can keep growing Michigan's economy, supporting and attracting hard-working people, and powering small businesses in every region of our great state."
Another state official praised the adults who decided to continue their education.
"Making the decision to go back to school, especially when you are already balancing adult responsibilities like a job or a family, is empowering and inspiring — and it can be daunting," Sarah Szurpicki, director of the Office of Sixty by 30 at the LEO, said in the press release. "That's why we want everyone considering the Michigan Reconnect scholarship program to know there is support along the way, and the Navigators can help them find solutions to anything that would stop or slow them down."
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