Grant to help online programs meet state’s skills need

Money allocated by the state Legislature will help Central Michigan University’s Innovation and Online program develop programs to help more working-age Michiganders obtain a post-high school education.

The $822,497 grant will help CMU Online build flexible education programming with Lansing Community College through an agreement that allows students to take courses at both schools, said a press release from The Michigan Center for Adult College Success.

“We are thrilled to be part of the Innovation Investment Award to support working-age Michiganders in achieving their educational and career goals,” said Kaleb Patrick, interim vice president of Innovation and Online. “This grant will allow us to expand our collaborative efforts with Lansing Community College, as well as other community colleges in the future, to help students gain the credentials needed to thrive in Michigan’s knowledge-based economy.

“We are proud to support the ‘Sixty by 30’ goal and contribute to Michigan's vibrant future.”

Sixty by 30 is a state program designed to help 60 percent of adult Michiganders obtain a post-high school educational credential by 2030. Currently, that figure is 51.1 percent.

CMU previously received $75,000 Quick Start grant to assess the state’s skills needs and help CMU Online assess the students’ experience in its online programs.

“Through the development of flexible, in-demand credentials that build on the professional experiences acquired throughout a learner’s career, we can build toward new skills and achievements,” Patrick said.

Online students have unique needs compared to more traditional students who attend classes on CMU’s main campus.

They are typically older. The average age of an undergraduate online student enrolled at CMU is approximately 33 years old, and the average age of a graduate online student is approximately 36 years old, Patrick said.

They are usually already in careers and are looking for ways to enhance professionally through additional education, he said.

More than 80 percent of the over 4,000 students admitted to a CMU online program, live in Michigan. They live all over the state, including 31 percent in metro Detroit, 14 percent in the Lansing area, 13 percent in the Grand Rapids area, 12 percent in the Great Lakes Bay Region and 11 percent in northern Michigan. The rest live out of state.