Calendar of Events

List View

Categories
	Academic
	Campus Closure
	Co-Curricular
	General
	News
	Pelkie Arts & Agriculture

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

17KBOCC Awarded $300,000 Grant to Expand Childcare Access for Adult LearnersKBOCC Awarded $300,000 Grant to Expand Childcare Access for Adult LearnersMiLEAP grant will support expanded hours at Ojibwa Early Learning Center to help remove barriers to college enrollment Keweena

w Bay Ojibwa Community College (KBOCC) has been awarded $300,000 through the Reconnect Enroll with Momentum Grants Program to expand evening childcare options. KBOCC is one of six colleges in Michigan to receive a two-year grant— provided by the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential’s (MiLEAP)—supporting strategies that address barriers to education for adult students. “Childcare continues to be a significant need in our area,” says Stacey Somero, Childcare Coordinator at Ojibwa Early Learning Center (OELC). “For KBOCC students who are also parents, finding reliable childcare that works with their class schedules can be a major challenge. By expanding OELC’s services to include evening care, we are helping to address a need in our community while giving students one less barrier as they work toward their education. We want parents to be able to attend class knowing their children are receiving high-quality care in a safe, supportive, and familiar environment. My hope is that this additional support will help our student-parents stay focused on their goals and continue their education.” KBOCC recognizes that adult learners often face unique challenges when returning to higher education. Many nontraditional prospective students have full-time jobs and families, and typical childcare options may not accommodate academic schedules in the evening. By expanding childcare coverage, KBOCC aims to make higher education more accessible to adult learners and create additional opportunities for students to enroll, persist, and complete their educational goals. “This funding will help KBOCC expand opportunities for learners by increasing access to evening childcare and removing a significant barrier for student-parents,” says Kit Laux, Executive Director of Community Programs at KBOCC. “By providing greater flexibility in childcare options, we can better support students as they balance the demands of school, work, and family. This investment strengthens our ability to meet learners where they are at and offer students stronger pathways to their educational goals.” KBOCC’s grant is part of nearly $1.8 million awarded to six Michigan colleges through the Reconnect Enroll with Momentum Grants Program. Together, the projects will help colleges address barriers to enrollment and create stronger pathways for adults to begin or return to postsecondary education. Each institution’s strategies reflect the needs of adult learners and communities across Michigan while supporting the goal of increasing enrollment among current and potential Reconnect applicants. The investment also supports Michigan’s broader Sixty by 30 goal of increasing the percentage of working-age adults with a postsecondary credential by the year 2030. For KBOCC, the grant represents an opportunity to strengthen the connection between childcare, education, and workforce development while building sustainable supports for student-parents. About Michigan Reconnect Michigan Reconnect is a state scholarship program that helps eligible Michigan adults who have not yet earned a college degree return to college or begin a postsecondary education. The program covers remaining eligible tuition and mandatory fees at participating Michigan community colleges after other applicable financial aid is applied. By reducing the cost of higher education, Michigan Reconnect helps remove financial barriers and creates pathways for adults to earn credentials that support their educational and career goals. About MiLEAP Established by Governor Whitmer in 2023, MiLEAP’s mission is to improve outcomes from birth to postsecondary so anyone can “make it in Michigan” with a solid education and a path to a good-paying job. To learn more about MiLEAP, visit Michigan.gov/MiLEAP

Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College

Useful Links

Search Our Site