MI-LEARN Design Lab

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January 24, 2025 - All MI-LEARN Applications Due (click for link to application)

February 5, 2025 - MI-LEARN Virtual Kickoff 1:30-3pm EST

MI-LEARN Design Lab

The Michigan Center for Adult College Success is partnering with Education Strategy Group and Sova Solutions  to launch a new opportunity for post-secondary institutions seeking to design innovative solutions to address systems change and challenges faced by the adult learner population the Michigan Learning Evolution and Academic Restructuring Network (MI-LEARN) Design Lab.

The Michigan Learning Evolution and Academic Restructuring Network (MI-LEARN) Design Lab is a 10-month program launching on February 5, 2025, aimed at supporting Michigan colleges and universities in implementing innovative strategies to enhance adult learner success.

For the MI-LEARN Design Lab, we will focus on assisting institutions in creating implementation plans, including but not limited to the following promising practices:

  • Creating adult student success dashboards to inform curriculum delivery and development,
  • Providing student support and wrap-around services for adult learners,
  • Major/degree retention and throughput analyses for pathways from enrollment through graduation,
  • Flexible scheduling, including 7- and 8-week course schedule formats,
  • Project-based and competency-based learning,
  • Credit for prior learning, and
  • Work-based learning.
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Benefits of Participating in the MI-LEARN Design Lab

  • Tailored Technical Assistance
    Receive high-quality, personalized support, including expert guidance, data analysis, and access to national practitioners and peer networking opportunities.

  • Capacity Building
    Gain additional institutional capacity through a structured 10-month planning and implementation process, enabling impactful improvements.

  • Data-Driven Insights
    Benefit from detailed student progression data and institutional analysis to drive evidence-based decision-making and curricular design.

  • Strategic Planning and Grant Support
    Receive assistance with strategic thought partnership and grant proposal development to secure funding for innovative strategies.

  • National and Statewide Recognition
    Elevate your institution’s profile through opportunities to showcase innovations and successes at national and statewide levels.

  • Collaborative Learning Environment
    Join a cohort of institutions to share best practices, refine solutions, and foster innovation tailored to adult learners’ needs.

  • Targeted Instructional Reforms
    Implement effective strategies such as Credit for Prior Learning (CPL), Competency-Based Education (CBE), flexible course formats, and career-aligned pathways.

  • Scalable Implementation Plans
    Develop and execute a detailed, sustainable roadmap for addressing systemic challenges and achieving measurable outcomes for adult learners.

MI-LEARN Design Lab FAQ

The MI-LEARN Design Lab is a 10-month initiative supporting Michigan higher education institutions in designing systemic, data-informed improvements tailored to adult learners.

Public and independent universities, community colleges, and tribal colleges in Michigan that serve adult learners (ages 21 and older) are eligible. Institutions must form a team of at least four representatives.

Focus areas include Credit for Prior Learning (CPL), Competency-Based Education (CBE), accelerated course formats, and innovative solutions to improve adult learner recruitment, retention, and completion rates.

Institutions will engage in workshops, needs assessments, cohort collaboration, targeted coaching, and data analysis, dedicating 6-8 hours monthly to activities and plan development.

There is no participation fee and institutions will be reimbursed for any travel expenses for events. Institutions must commit time as a resource to the program activities and implementation plans.

  • Webinar: December 16, 2024
  • Application Due: January 24, 2025
  • Kick-Off Event: February 5, 2025
  • Design-Lab Duration (including designing and potentially executive implementation plans): February 2025 – June 2026

Participating institutions will receive technical assistance, coaching, data analysis support, strategic planning guidance, and help with securing grants to implement their plans.

Submit the MI-LEARN Design Lab application form by January 24, 2025, via email to TheCenter@talentfirst.net.

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