Your Resource for Boosting Adult College Enrollment | March 2025

Hi - we're new here!

Well, new-ish. We hope you’ve heard of us already, crossed paths with us at a conference or on a webinar, or joined us at a Design Lab (more on that below!) 

But if not… we’re The Center. We're here to offer technical, hands-on help to colleges and universities so they can better connect adults with postsecondary education and give them the tools and resources they need to complete a degree or certificate.

Jeremy Hendges

Executive Director

Michelle Burke

Director of Postsecondary Programs and Partnerships

Matt DeMonbrun

Director of Research

We share in the state's Sixty by 30 goals around higher education and look forward to collaborating with you in the future. Want more information? Visit our website and get involved today!

MI-LEARN Design Lab Starts March 11!

The Michigan Learning Evolution and Academic Restructuring Network (MI-LEARN) Design Lab is accepting applications until we reach capacity! This 10-month program supports Michigan colleges and universities in implementing innovative strategies to enhance adult learner success - and there's still time to join us! Participation in the Design Lab is free for institutions.

The MI-LEARN Design Lab offers a unique opportunity to expand your institution's capacity with minimal time investment. Participants gain access to valuable data, expert coaches, and technical assistance to help accelerate progress in one or more key areas of your choosing.

Coaching will also be available regarding funding sources to support implementation plans. Design Lab teams should consist of at least one senior leader, one senior faculty or teaching & learning director, and one institutional effectiveness leader.

If your institution is interested in participating, simply reach out via email to TheCenter@talentfirst.net and we'll integrate your team on a timeline that works for you. But don't delay - the next convening is March 11. 

Review the recording below of the February kickoff call to learn more about the scope and intent of MI-LEARN Design Lab.

Expanding Access: How institutions can recruit adult learners for Michigan Reconnect

Matt's latest blog dives into a case study on how one Michigan college is reaching adult learners to enroll them in Reconnect.

Read more on Oakland Community College’s successful Reconnect outreach initiatives.

Policy Pulse: What's happening in Lansing

Adult learning was a notable presence on the statewide stage, as Gov. Whitmer called attention to something we've been following closely in the higher ed community: the gender gap. In her 7th State of the State speech on Feb. 26, she said:

"There's a gender gap in higher education. Women outnumber men at community colleges, universities, and most of all, in Michigan Reconnect, where enrollment is 2-1, women to men. We've built great programs open to everyone, but we need to do a better job of getting more young men signed up."

How did we respond? Well, by saying "She's right - and we have to fix it." Read Jeremy's thoughts on the speech.

Landscape Analysis

One of the Center's early projects was a landscape analysis, which is aimed at helping us identify barriers to—and supports for—postsecondary achievement among adults. Our learnings show a wealth of data-based evidence underlying the reasons adults aren't returning to school. Just take a look:

The Center Connection: Partner Perspectives

Jobs for the Future and Achieving the Dream held a focus group with adult learners enrolled in community colleges in three states, including Michigan, to detail what could benefit their achievement and success.

Read—or listen!—to their insights via Inside Higher Ed.

We can help with that!

Want to work with us but don’t know where to start? Here are a few ways we’ve got you covered:

Labor market data - We can pull adult learner/potential student data in your specific labor market. We’ll do the digging for you, and all the explaining, too.

Visit with us virtually - We’ve got open office hours Tuesdays 9-10 a.m. and Thursdays 3-4 p.m. We'll see you on Zoom!

Know someone who would find this valuable? Forward this email and share the insights!

We collaborate to drive postsecondary innovation, transforming Michigan into a place where more adult learners enroll, complete and thrive.