Students age 21 or older offered free tuition

By PAMELA JANSSON

pjansson@yourdailyglobe.com

GOGEBIC RANGE - Michigan Reconnect, which began in 2021 by offering free tuition to persons 25 years or older, now is offering a temporary expansion to persons 21 to 24 years old.

The offer also applies to students already enrolled in college, but not to people who already have a college degree.

The application deadline for persons 21 to 24 years old is Dec. 31, and they then must submit a free application for federal student aid - known by its acronym of FAFSA - and must be enrolled in college no later than the summer semester of 2025.

The offer for free tuition applies only to students enrolling in community colleges or tribal colleges within their districts, not four-year universities or colleges.

David Darrow of Bessemer explained the concept in a recent interview with The Globe.

Darrow is the former Vice President of Academic Services at Gogebic Community College, but as of June, he has been representing Michigan Reconnect.

"They have to be in an associate degree program," said Darrow of applicants for free tuition.

However, he said that Michigan Reconnect students could study toward an associate degree program while also pairing it with separate, major training toward a non-associate program such as cosmetology or CDL (commercial driver's license).

"Your major courses will help you get a job," said Darrow. "Your associate degree courses will help you build a career."

He added that, other than the aforementioned restrictions, students are not required to take a specific major, etc.

Regarding Michigan Reconnect officials, he said, "I think they're intentionally open and less prescriptive, so students can pursue what they want to pursue. I think they're really just trying to get kids interested in higher education."

According to a Michigan Reconnect press release, 177,000 persons in Michigan have taken advantage of the program, which is regarded as a scholarship system, based on federal funding.

The release states that "Sixty by 30" is the official state goal to increase the number of working-age adults with a skill certificate or college degree from the current level of 51.1% to 60% by 2030.

"One of my favorite conversations was with a mom who wanted to go back to college," said Darrow. "It is very satisfying, and it's nice after being in administration so long to deal directly with students who are looking to improve themselves, their community, and ultimately the state of Michigan."

"Extending the deadline for Michigan Reconnect gives prospective and current students ages 21 to 24 more time to benefit from this limited-time opportunity," said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, director of MiLEAP, in the press release. "Reconnect is one example of how we are responding to the needs of our state - and a testament to our dedication to ensuring every individual has access to the necessary resources to secure their educational future and pursue a path to prosperity."

The same press release also shared the following quote from a graduate who benefitted from the program:

"Beyond the financial resources, Michigan Reconnect gave me something that I had not gotten before: support," said Kelly Thalmann. "They helped me every step of the way, from understanding the financial aid process to everything else I needed to earn my degree."

She added, "The first time I tried to go to college I didn't get any help, and it didn't go well. More than a decade later when I returned to school, I had the support of Michigan Reconnect and that made the difference. It made such an impact on my journey that now I am an admissions specialist at Oakland Community College, giving others the same kind of support that helped me."

Regarding his own position, Darrow said, "Most of what I'm doing is online or on the phone. We call ourselves REFS (for retired educator FAFSA specialists)."

The Michigan College Access Network and the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential - known by its acronym of MiLEAP - provided training for REFS throughout the state.

Darrow said that even students outside of the college district can use Michigan Reconnect to benefit from reduced tuition at $59 per credit hour. So it's a good deal even for them, he assured.

Darrow's message to the community is this: "Encourage your kids, grandkids, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, to take advantage of it."

For more information, see micollege-access.org/refs.