Innovation Investment Awards
Innovation Investment Awards
The Michigan Center for Adult College Success will be offering Innovation Investment Awards to help postsecondary institutions implement best practices or pilot new ideas to better serve adult students in a way that increases completion rates.
The Center will begin accepting proposals in May from Michigan postsecondary institutions seeking to implement innovative solutions for improving persistence and completion rates among adult learners over the age of 25. The Center is making $5 million available in Innovation Investment Awards through a competitive award process. Grants of up to $1 million will be awarded to Michigan colleges and universities that show they are ready to launch effective, lasting improvements to systems that help students 25 and older obtain postsecondary credentials.
The goal of this page is to provide enough information to empower eligible applicants to engage in serious planning efforts for whatever opportunities are right for their campus.
Grant Application Template and Resources
Before completing the online application, please review the application template (PDF file) and the SLFRF Resource Guide for full details on the grant requirements. Applicants are encouraged to develop a draft application that can be transferred to the online portal for final submission. The ONLINE APPLICATION PORTAL will be open May 1-July 15, 2024.
Innovation Investment Award Application (PDF)SLFRF Resource Guide (PDF)Online Grant Application Portal
The online application can be accessed HERE. Applicants are encouraged to develop a draft application that can be transferred to the online portal for final submission. The ONLINE APPLICATION PORTAL will be open May 1-July 15, 2024.
Innovation Investment Award Online ApplicationApplication Assistance
Staff Contact
Staff at The Center are available to answer questions throughout the application process.
Michelle Burke
Director of Postsecondary Programs and Partnerships
m.burke@talentfirst.net
Virtual Office Hours
Office Hours will be offered weekly from April 30-July 11, 2024.
Tuesdays, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Thursdays, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Pre-review of Draft Applications
Pre-review of draft applications is available from The Center staff through June 7, 2024. Email a pdf file of the draft application to TheCenter@talentfirst.net. Allow five business days for review and response.
Application Scoring Rubric
The application scoring rubric can be accessed here: Application Scoring Rubric
Grant Information Webinar
This webinar for potential IIA applicants was held on April 23. The recording and slide deck is now available.
Important Dates
FAQ
As we receive common questions from applicants, we will post the Q&A here. To submit a question, email us at thecenter@talentfirst.net.
Is there a scoring rubric that will be used by application reviewers?
Yes. Applicants can access the rubric here. Application Scoring Rubric
What do you mean by "Leading Indicators" and "Lagging Indicators"?
Leading indicators look to the future and lagging indicators refer to the past. For lagging indicators, think about the data you currently collect or have previously collected to set benchmarks to inform your system change. For leading indicators, what data do you plan to collect or will need to collect to inform your work and demonstrate outcomes? Keep in mind that Innovation Investment Award recipients will be supported by the Michigan Center for Adult College Success with additional resources for data collection and outcomes assessment as they are implementing funded initiatives.
Funding Opportunities Through the Office of Sixty by 30
The Center has coordinated the Innovation Investment Awards to complement the $45 million available through the Office of Sixty by 30 Student Success Grants. The Innovation Investment Awards and the Student Success Grants are available to support efforts to achieve Michigan’s goal of building a viable workforce by the year 2030, with 60% of working adults in Michigan holding a postsecondary credential that will lead to higher-wage job opportunities.
Contact Us
If you are interested in learning about the Innovation Investment Awards as more details on the program become available, please sign up below or email us at TheCenter@talentfirst.net.