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Michigan Reconnect brings tuition-free college access to adults 25+, hosting in-person events statewide this August to guide new applicants toward credentials.
Michigan Reconnect expands access with August events: tuition-free education for adults
LANSING — Michiganders aged 25 and older are being invited to register for Michigan Reconnect at community and campus events across the state this August. The initiative, managed by Michigan’s Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP), offers tuition?free access to postsecondary degrees and certificates at public and Tribal community colleges.
Since its 2021 launch, more than 200,000 residents have applied, and over 10,000 have graduated through Michigan Reconnect, according to a state press release. The program employs Reconnect Navigators who deliver one?on?one support: setting academic and career goals, exploring programs, assisting with financial aid, and crafting graduation plans.
Navigators go on the road—events provide direct enrollment opportunities
Through August, Navigators will be present at events ranging from “Summer Screening Day” in Romulus and Taylor, to workshops at Schoolcraft College, resource fairs in Detroit, and cultural gatherings in Lansing, Flint, Scottville, and more Michigan. Adults can enroll on?site or request Navigators to appear at local events to facilitate access.
Additionally, Michigan Reconnect offers virtual “drop?in” office hours every Tuesday (12?p.m.–2?p.m.) and Thursday (5?p.m.–7?p.m.) for personalized support.
Upcoming events:
| Date and Time | Event Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 12, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. | The Guidance Center, Summer Screening Day | 35200 Smith Rd. Romulus, MI 48174 |
| Aug. 12, 5-7 p.m. | Schoolcraft College Reconnect Workshop | Schoolcraft College –McDowell Student Center, 18600 Haggerty Road Livonia, MI 48152, MC 100AD |
| Aug. 13, 1-7:30 p.m. | LCC Orientation Resource Session | Lansing Community College – 422 N Washington Sq, Lansing, MI 48933 |
| Aug. 13, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. | Detroit at Work Resource Fair | Detroit at Work – 18017 E. Warren Ave, Detroit, MI 48224 |
| Aug. 14, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. | The Guidance Center, Summer Screening Day | 8850 Pardee Rd. Taylor, MI 48180 |
| Aug. 14, 3:30-8:30 p.m. | Love Lansing Celebration | Cristo Rey Church – 201 W. Miller Rd. Lansing, MI 48911 |
| Aug. 15, 1-9 p.m. | Health is Wealth Detroit | Joseph Walker Williams Center – 8431 Rosa Parks Blvd., Detroit, MI 48206 |
| August 15, 9 a.m.-Aug. 17, 9 p.m. | Opportunity Now Expo | WCCC Northwest Campus – 8200 West Outer Drive, Detroit, MI 48219 |
| Aug. 16, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Back to the Bricks | Mott Community College Culinary Arts Institution, 550 Saginaw St, Flint, MI 48502 |
| Aug. 20, 5:30-7 p.m. | LCC New Fall Student Kick-off | LCC Main Campus – 420 N Washington Square, Lansing, MI 48933 |
| Aug. 21, 3-7 p.m. | West Shore Community College Event | 3000 N Stiles Rd Scottville, MI 49454 |
| Aug. 30, 2-7 p.m. | Peacenic 2025 | Skinner Park – 12800 Kelly Rd, Detroit, MI 48224 |
Part of the broader 60 by 30 strategy to raise educational attainment
Michigan Reconnect is a central strategy in the state’s Sixty?by?30 goal—raising the share of working?age adults with postsecondary credentials to 60?percent by 2030. Governor Gretchen Whitmer first launched Reconnect in 2019 and later expanded it via bipartisan budgets and executive action to boost higher education access.
MiLEAP has also directed $8.1 million in Reconnect Community Action Grants to community colleges statewide to enhance outreach, support services, and navigator capacity Michigan+6GovDelivery+6Home+6.
Tuition-free access combined with tailored support helps fill workforce and education gaps
Michigan Reconnect covers tuition and mandatory fees for in?district residents through a last?dollar model, making credential completion significantly more affordable—a powerful incentive for adults re?entering education. At Mid Michigan College, for example, the program allowed a returning student to resume his academic and career path through guided support and financial aid.
What this means for Michigan and adult learners
Back?to?school season now includes adults seeking to upskill or complete degrees. Michigan Reconnect’s combination of tuition relief, navigator assistance, and active outreach can remove traditional barriers—making career transitions and credential completion more accessible.
However, Michigan still must address equity: an executive directive noted that women make up the majority of Reconnect participants, signaling gaps in male engagement that need targeted efforts.
Ultimately, Michigan Reconnect aims to expand opportunity, reduce poverty, and reinforce workforce readiness by meeting learners where they are. The question now is whether these in-person efforts translate into higher adult enrollment and degree attainment in the months ahead.
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