Western Illinois University has been working to help those individuals, commonly referred to as stop-outs, through online programs and admissions campaigns and is now partnering with ReUp Education to take this initiative even further.

In partnership with ReUp Education, Michigan has expanded its Michigan Reconnect initiative in support of the state's 1.2 million some college no credential residents with robust college coaching and support.LANSING, Mich., April 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ReUp Education, a national leader in college re-enrollment and workforce readiness, has announced an expanded partnership with the state of Michigan focused on reengaging the nearly 1.2 million Michigan residents who have some college but no credential (SCNC). This expansion builds on ReUp's current work across the state to help residents find their way back to and through higher education and will advance existing efforts to meet Michigan's goal of having 60% of working-age adults with a degree or postsecondary credential by 2030."As Michigan celebrates the fourth anniversary of Michigan Reconnect, we are excited to leverage ReUp's expertise in reengaging adult learners to accelerate our impact with Michigan's community colleges," said Sarah Szurpicki, Director of the Office of Sixty by 30 at the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). "This partnership will support thousands of Michiganders as they continue their educational journeys and build a better future for their families and our communities."According to data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, the SCNC population has reached more than 40 million Americans. Many of these learners face a range of barriers to degree/credential attainment, including the cost of college, balancing work and family commitments, and a lack of guidance on how to reenroll or complete their studies. And, with 72 percent of jobs in the US requiring postsecondary education and/or training by 2031 and 84% of Michigan-based jobs requiring a bachelor's degree or higher in the next eight years, establishing new pathways to degree completion is essential to meeting national, regional, and local workforce demands.Through the MiLEAP partnership, ReUp will be working directly with community colleges across the state to re-enroll 21- to 24-year-old college stopouts, including:Alpena Community CollegeDelta CollegeGrand Rapids Community CollegeHenry Ford CollegeJackson CollegeKalamazoo Valley Community CollegeKellogg Community CollegeLansing Community CollegeMid Michigan CollegeCollege Mott Community CollegeOakland Community CollegeCollege St. Clair County Community CollegeThis statewide partnership builds on ReUp's existing relationships with the Michigan Association of State Universities and Detroit Drives Degrees