In a Thursday press release, Glen Oaks Community College announced that it will be participating in a free tuition program unveiled concurrently by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The college will serve as as “Frontliners Champion” under the Governor’s “Futures for Frontlines” program. Whitmer first announced parts of the program to benefit essential workers in late April, but on Thursday said it will offer tuition-free attendance at community colleges across the state for up to 625,000 Michigan residents.
“We believe strongly that those who were required to work during the state shutdown this past spring so that the rest of us could stay safe are heroes and deserve our thanks,” said Dr. David Devier, Glen Oaks President. “Many of the men and women we represent were out in the community putting their health and lives on the line.” During discussion about the program in a Thursday meeting of the college’s Board of Trustees, Executive Director of Communications and Marketing Val Juergens said the state’s definition of frontline workers is not limited to first responders, but also includes employees of other essential industries such as bank tellers and garbage truck operators.
Thursday’s press release said, “as a Frontliners Champion, Glen Oaks has committed to make sure members know about this opportunity.” The program is open to Michigan residents who worked in essential industries during the period from April 1 to June 30, but do not have a college degree. Potential candidates must also not have other access to free tuition at their local community college. The application period runs through December 31 of this year with enrollment available beginning in January of 2021. Prospective candidates looking to apply or to learn more about Futures for Frontliners should visit www.Michigan.gov/Frontliners.
If eligible, the program would allow candidates to pursue an associate degree or a skills certificate. Glen Oak, located a short distance south of Centreville, offers 16 associate degree programs and 19 certificate programs. These programs include a variety of academic fields, a nursing program, and a number of Career and Technical Education programs for students wishing to pursue skilled trades careers.
Candidates may attend college on either a full-time or part-time basis should they choose to continue to work during that time. Workers who are otherwise eligible but do not yet have a high school diploma or an equivalent certification will have access to other services to help them prepare for and complete the necessary credentials. Following that, they can continue with a community college or job training program.
“Providing these frontline workers in essential industries with access to tuition-free community college, even if they don’t have their high school diploma or equivalency, to pursue their career and personal dreams is a wonderful way to say, ‘thank you.’ They earned this,” Devier said.
Dave Vago is a writer and columnist for Watershed Voice. A Philadelphia native with roots in Three Rivers, Vago is a planning consultant to history and community development organizations and is the former Executive Director of the Three Rivers DDA/Main Street program.
