Free tuition offered to local GCC non-traditional students

By CHARITY SMITH

csmith@yourdailyglobe.com

Ironwood — Non-traditional college students at Gogebic Community College may soon be attending classes tuition free. The college announced on Tuesday that it will participate in the Michigan Reconnect program, which will provide free tuition to those students who qualify for the program starting in summer 2021.

“The program does serve largely non-traditional students, those that are age 25 or older and do not have an associate or bachelor’s degree. We are targeting non-traditional students that either have never attended college or may have started attending college but never completed a degree. That makes up a substantial portion of our students,” said Marc Madigan, director of financial aid at GCC. “We’re hoping a lot of our current students who meet those qualifications will take advantage of the program, and we’re also hoping to see a bump in our enrollment by drawing in new students.”

The Michigan Reconnect program was announced by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in Lansing on Tuesday. The program is designed to help address a widening skills gap within the state’s workforce. Hundreds of leading Michigan businesses, community and legislative leaders have indicated the program is what employers across the state need to alleviate the shortage of highly skilled and capable workers, according to a press release.

“We believe Michigan Reconnect will not only help individuals and families pursue their dreams, but it will also help build a strong economy that requires a talented and modern workforce to compete for the jobs of the future,” said Dr. George McNulty, GCC President.”We encourage area residents who want to secure their future by pursuing a satisfying, in-demand career to take advantage of what Michigan Reconnect is offering.”

Besides being 25 or older and without a college degree, prospective students must be a high school graduate or equivalent, and be a Michigan resident for at least one year.

Locally, the program will pay the tuition for eligible adults who live in Gogebic County and want to pursue an associate degree. For those adult students living outside of Gogebic County, but in Michigan, the program will only pay the in-district part of the tuition, making the student responsible for the difference, according to a release from the college. “For students who receive other state or federal grant aid, Reconnect will cover remaining eligible expenses that aren’t paid for by other programs like Pell, Tuition Incentive Program (TIP) or other state tuition awards,” the release said.

“The program covers mandatory fees, which are fees that are charged to all students at the college,” said Madigan, adding fees tied to specific courses, like lab fees, are not considered a mandatory fees, and thus are not covered.

Madigan said that it is important to note that the program is structured like the “Futures for Front-Liners” program and is considered “last dollar,” which means it will only cover expenses that are not already covered by some of these other programs, such as a Pell grant or other financial aid programs.

“That piece, particularity, we have been trying to communicate, because we feel that a lot of students are not understanding that when they come to get their aid package,” said Madigan. “They are often surprised that their award for the Futures for Front-Liners program, which is structured the same way, is not larger than it is.”

According to the press release, as of 2019, only 42% of Michigan’s working-age residents had an associate degree or higher. A 2020 analysis by the American Association of Community Colleges reported the median earnings of full-time employees with a high school degree is $40,510 annually, while those with an associate degree make $50,079 per year, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Michigan employers’ ability to find highly skilled employees is more difficult than ever and is cited as a top concern in the most recent Michigan Future Business Index Report, the release said. Michigan Reconnect will help address the dual challenges of the state’s widening talent gap and aging workforce, according to the release.

The application and additional program information are available at Michigan.gov/Reconnect for enrollment in classes beginning May 2021. The program will be available through 2030.