UP Gazette

The Michigan Reconnect program, recently announced by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, is meant to increase the number of Michiganders with college degrees by covering in-district tuition at any of the state's community college districts.

But the program contains a major negative for some students. Approximately 20% of the state’s population lives in communities with no community college district.

Out of Michigan’s 83 counties, 50 have no community college district, according to Bridge Michigan. 

Much of the funding for community colleges in the state comes from local property taxes from throughout the community college districts. Those colleges then offer separate, lower rates for students who live within the district.

But even if a student is coming from a neighboring county and can commute to attend classes, they may be paying twice as much for every credit hour as they would if they lived within the district. Those students can still benefit from the Michigan Reconnect program, but only in terms of having the equivalent of in-district tuition covered, according to Bridge Michigan. Any costs above that would be the student's responsibility to cover.

The primary eligibility requirements for the program include that applicants must be 25 or older, have lived in the state for at least a year, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and not have completed any previous associate’s or bachelor’s degree, according to Michigan.gov.

Additionally, the Michigan Reconnect website states that, when those in the program are billed by their community college each semester, costs -- including in-district tuition, mandatory fees and additional charges for certain courses and programs -- would be free to the students.

Alyssa Merton, a coordinator of the Local College Access Network in Oceana County, said it’s frustrating for potential students who live in a county with no in-district community college, which also typically are the counties with high poverty rates and low educational attainment.