Expanding Access

Talent exists in every Michigan community, but opportunity is not evenly distributed. Expanding Access connects people and programs across the state to strengthen pathways and support systems that help learners access education, build real opportunity, and thrive, whether learning happens in schools, community spaces, community colleges, workplaces, or at the university.

Why It Matters

• Educational opportunity shouldn’t depend on where you live or what resources you have access to.
• Expanding Access strengthens pathways and support systems by connecting schools, community organizations, employers, and the university.
• This work supports learning across the lifespan by strengthening Michigan’s statewide learning ecosystem, including community colleges, libraries, and museums.

Guiding Questions

Questions We’re Exploring:

Before: Pathways into learning

• How do we strengthen pathways that expand opportunity while genuinely strengthening local communities across Michigan?
• What does a reciprocal partnership look like when different institutions and communities bring different forms of expertise and capacity?

Through: Conditions for learning and success

• What barriers most often derail learners once they enter a learning pathway, including STEM and graduate or professional trajectories, and what supports make the biggest difference?
• How can the university invest alongside schools, community colleges, and community partners in ways that add capacity rather than add burden?

Beyond: Lifelong learning

• How can we strengthen Michigan’s learning ecosystem so people can continue learning throughout adulthood, including through community colleges, libraries, and museums?