The University of Olivet is pleased to be one the 15 Michigan Colleges Alliance (MCA) institutions now included as part of the Kalamazoo Promise.
“With many students hailing from Kalamazoo Public Schools currently enrolled at The University of Olivet, we have a longstanding commitment to this school district,” said The University of Olivet President Steven M. Corey, Ph.D. “We are enthusiastic about this opportunity and look forward to welcoming the Kalamazoo Promise Scholars to our campus.”
The Kalamazoo Promise and the MCA announced their partnership on behalf of Kalamazoo Promise eligible students during a press conference June 10. Beginning in fall of 2015, students may use their Kalamazoo Promise scholarship to attend any one of the MCA liberal arts colleges and universities in Michigan.
In each case, tuition and fees will be fully and jointly funded by The Kalamazoo Promise and the MCA member institution. The Kalamazoo Promise will fund at the level of the undergraduate average tuition and fees for the College of Literature, Science and Arts at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The MCA member institution will cover any difference between that amount and the amount of its yearly tuition and fees.
Janice M. Brown, board member for The Kalamazoo Promise, said: “This opportunity for Promise Scholars is a true measure of access and equity. The addition of these 15 institutions will increase the number of Promise eligible schools to 58 schools throughout Michigan.
“The existing Promise institutions, led by Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo Valley Community College (who now serve over 60 percent of Promise Scholars) have done a tremendous job in welcoming, supporting and providing programs at considerable effort and cost.” Brown added, “These colleges serve as a wonderful model of how to support The Kalamazoo Promise student, and the strategies they have developed are benefiting all of their students.”
Bob Bartlett, CEO of the Michigan Colleges Alliance, said: “This partnership truly is a winning proposition for all. Promise Scholars will benefit from increased college choice throughout the state, and MCA colleges and universities will be enriched by having these deserving students on their campuses. We are grateful to The Kalamazoo Promise for creating this opportunity.”
MCA member institutions include Adrian College, Albion College, Alma College, Andrews University, Aquinas College, Calvin College, Hillsdale College, University of Detroit Mercy, Hope College, Kalamazoo College, Madonna University, Marygrove College, The University of Olivet, Siena Heights University, and Spring Arbor University.
Michigan Colleges Alliance (MCA) works to strengthen the shared capacity of 15 leading independent, four-year colleges and universities grounded in a liberal arts and sciences tradition, to broaden college choice in Michigan, support access to MCA campuses for students and families, and foster career outcomes for MCA graduates.
For more information, please contact Bob Jorth, Executive Director, The Kalamazoo Promise, 269.337.0037 email bjorth@kalamazoopromise.com, or Von Washington, E.D., Community Relations, 269.488.3577 email vwashington@kalamazoopromise.com.