Outstanding National Service Program - The Michigan College Access Network's AdviseMI AmeriCorps Program

The Michigan College Access Network’s AdviseMI AmeriCorps program, including the Michigan State University College Advising Corps, has grown to become one of the largest programs in the state. There are currently 88 AmeriCorps members serving at over 120 high schools throughout Michigan. Each member serves as a college adviser at one or two high schools working alongside school counselors dedicated to providing college access resources to over 20,000 students and their families. College attainment strategies are critical to ensuring that Michigan has enough talented residents to meet workforce demands, making the work that AdviseMI members do even more urgent. Many of the highest-achieving disadvantaged students – young men and women who are qualified to continue their education beyond high school – do not consider attending a four-year college, and many who say they plan to apply never do. School counselors are critical in supporting students during the college application and matriculation process, however, the student-to-school counselor ratio is 471:1 nationally. AdviseMI is dedicated to closing the gaps in education that low-income students, first generation students and students of color face. Over 5,000 students have already been accepted into college, which exceeds the program goal of 4,400 students.