MARQUETTE – Nearly 250 faculty and higher education leaders from across Michigan gathered this week at Delta College for two day-long workshops focused on making it easier for students to transfer college credits and stay on track to earn their degrees. Hosted by the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential, the workshop is part of the state’s larger effort to strengthen collaboration across Michigan’s community colleges and public universities, expand pathways to degree completion, and prepare more learners for in-demand careers in Michigan. 

“For too many students, transferring between colleges can feel like navigating a maze,” said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, MiLEAP director. “Misaligned policies and inconsistent requirements can cost students time and credits, making it harder for them to continue their education and earn a bachelor’s degree. This work brings institutions together to ensure the time and effort students have already invested counts. By strengthening transfer pathways, we’re helping more students reach graduation, moving Michigan closer to Sixty by 30, and building the skilled workforce our economy depends on.” 

The workshops brought together faculty from 55 of the state’s community colleges and universities to collaborate on ways to create a more supportive and effective transfer infrastructure through the development of additional MiTransfer Pathways — statewide agreements that strengthen the transfer ecosystem for students and institutions. These pathways are designed to expand opportunities for students to explore programs before committing, create more transparent and consistent transfer routes that reduce guesswork, streamline processes for faculty and advisors, strengthen collaboration across institutions, and advance more equitable outcomes in transfer, retention, and completion.