The Michigan College Access Network, or MCAN, utilizes college advisors throughout the state making higher education more accessible to students.
Approximately 15%-20% of the nonprofit’s funding comes from AmeriCorps, a federal agency focused on service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps had its funding cut by the Trump administration back in April, then later reinstated by federal judges.
“That came, of course, several months after the programs were already terminated and members and gone on to other things.”
Jenny McArdle is Director of Service Strategy with MCAN. She says the organization is now scrambling to fill those college advisor positions throughout the state.
“So, we’re really excited to have another year of AmeriCorps funding to run our college advising and college success programs; the challenge being that this is several months behind and a lot of things were already stopped. It’s hard to turn them back on.”
McArdle says while it’s unclear if AmeriCorps funding will be available to them next year, they are planning for either scenario.
“We’ll be preparing for both futures and won’t let the federal funding piece get in the way. We just need to do things differently and find some different ways to work better and smarter to continue to serve students.”
