Blue Water College Access Network

Welcome to your resource for planning, preparing, and going to college after high school. Blue Water College Access Network is here to provide information and opportunities that will ensure you graduate confidently prepared, with plans for career and college beyond high school. Whether you choose to go on to earn a bachelor's degree, an associate degree, or an industry credential, we can help you get there!

Each month, we will publish a newsletter to keep you on track, informed, and engaged in college activities provided by organizations across the county. To subscribe to the newsletter, submit your email address using this form. Past editions of the newsletter can be found at bwcan.org. Contact Nick Beaudry with any questions you might have at beaudry.nick@sccresa.org.

St. Clair County Community College welcomed the region's 8th grade students on campus in May for a look at programs and possibilities as they prepare to launch their high school journey. With opportunities to learn about Health Sciences, engineering programs, the Field House, the Career and Technical Middle College, dual enrollment, and the Blue Water Middle College, students left able to make better informed decisions about their future.

We enjoyed welcoming eighth graders from many districts recently and look forward to future opportunities to host more of your students on campus! To schedule future campus tours, contact us at (810) 989-5571 or starthere@sc4.edu. To schedule visits to Challenger Learning Center at SC4, contact us at experiencecenter@sc4.edu or (810) 989-5789.

Students can lock in fall semester courses now to make sure they get the classes they want. Fall semester starts Aug. 21.

Did you know that high school students can earn free college credits while in high school? Learn more and register for fall classes today!

We're now accepting applications from students interested in living in the College’s student residence halls for the 2023-24 academic year. During the 2022-23 academic year, students from the local community and around the nation chose to live on campus.

IPG in Marysville currently has employment opportunities for graduates attending SC4 next Fall. These are great opportunities for our soon-to-be graduates to not only secure employment while attending college but also gain valuable work experience and skills as they pursue careers in various industries.

IPG will be accepting resumes and applications all May. Please share this flyer and information with your seniors that have declared they will be attending SC4 in the Fall 2023 semester.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Each month, we feature a video from the "How to College" series produced by the Study Hall Program, a partnership between Crash Course and Arizona State University. The Study Hall Program is in the process of publishing the 15-video series, and we will feature a video each month over 16 months.

In this month's video, How to Graduate, Erica explains how you need to be keeping an eye on your progress and talking to your advisors to make sure you're where you need to be so you get to put the cap and gown on and celebrate your accomplishments. Get a list of upcoming episodes for Fast Guides and How to College at https://gostudyhall.com/

Because there's a lot of information to keep track of when you're applying to college, Crash Course made an easy spreadsheet to help you compare schools, keep track of application requirements, and set your goals! Copy this free template and make it your own: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ycGCb-JeGpiu0LLJCUVvV_Zlm5W8u5eimgk3N3blmug/edit#gid=0

To preview upcoming topics, check out the episode guide.

From the Study Hall Program:

Dr. Erica Brozovsky (from PBS's Otherwords) hosts and breaks down how to apply for, succeed at, and graduate from college. We hope you'll join us for this journey and check out our all new Study Hall Channel where you can watch Fast Guides about college majors and even more series. Get a list of upcoming episodes for Fast Guides and How to College at https://gostudyhall.com/

Each month, counselors can find current college and career counseling information and professional learning opportunities in the Counselor Corner section of the BWCAN newsletter. A running compilation of opportunities can also be found on the Counselors page at bwcan.org.

Support your counselors by completing a Data Use Agreement (DUA), granting them access to our data management system, MiSSG. In MiSSG, authorized users can view student records including:

• FAFSA completion data,
• SAT records, and
• Michigan Achievement Scholarship and the Tuition Incentive Program (TIP) information.

To access the DUA, visit our High School Counselor MiSSG Portal Resources.

Please be aware the MiSSG High School Counselor Portal will be unavailable beginning Friday, August 18, 2023, and will open again for Academic Year 2023-24 in early September 2023.

As a reminder, all Data Use Agreements must be:

• Completed electronically and annually (please type because handwritten information will cause processing delays)
• Submitted via email to mistudentaid@michigan.gov by authorizing principal/superintendent

Also, do you have a college adviser placed at your high school from one of the three college advising corps (AdviseMI, Michigan College Advising Corps, or Michigan State University College Advising Corps)? If so, be sure to list their names in Section 3 of the DUA (see below) and utilize the new check boxes to indicate which college advising corps. Again, the college adviser must be from one of the three college advising corps (listed above) to have access to MiSSG.

Federal Student Aid recently announced a delay in the launch of the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). MI Student Aid would like to ensure that high school counselors and lead administrators are aware of the delay. As you know, the FAFSA typically opens on October 1 of the student's senior year; however, the 2024-25 FAFSA is scheduled to open in December 2023. This delay is due to several updates and simplifications Federal Student Aid is implementing to improve the overall FAFSA process for students and families.

But don't worry, the MI Student Aid team will be offering resources and support to you and your students as we navigate the changes to the FAFSA in the new school year. We look forward to connecting with you and your students!

Award Letters Are Arriving — Do Your Students Understand Them?

Students might need help navigating financial aid offers. These offers, often referred to as award letters, should spark conversations about college affordability between students, families and the professionals who help them along their postsecondary pathways.

Learn more about Award Letters here.

2023-24 FAFSA and FSA Updates: What Do You Need to Know?

National College Attainment Network highlights the latest changes in the 2023-24 Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Learn more about the latest FAFSA changes here.

Virtual College Financial Aid Nights

MI Student Aid hosted virtual college financial aid nights for students and families looking for college financial assistance.

Watch 2022 Virtual Financial Aid recordings here

Counselors looking for opportunities to earn credits to renew their certificates have flexible free online courses that may fulfill your needs:

Michigan Virtual Counselor Courses - various SCECH Credits

Understanding the Modern Military - 5 SCECH Credits

MCAN Upcoming Webinars - .5-1 SCECH Credit each

MCAN Webinar Recordings - 1 Credit each

Full list from MDE: Free and Low-Cost Online Professional Learning Options Approved for Certificate Renewal and Progression

SC4 has a handy webpage for those guiding students' college and career planning. They have updated English and math placement information, AP course equivalencies and more. Check it out here: https://sc4.edu/admissions/high-school-counselors/

Registration deadline: Aug. 4

The Equity-Focused Career Development and Postsecondary Transitions Counselor Course is designed for professional school counselors and pre-service school counselors, career advisers, and educators. Participants will acquire the skills and knowledge needed to address equity and access issues in career development and help students prepare for postsecondary education and careers.

Learn more and register →

MCAN, in partnership with San Diego State University's Center for Equity and Postsecondary Attainment, is accepting applications for the 2023-25 School Counselor Fellows program. Counselors who are passionate about advocating to improve postsecondary opportunities for students and who are ready to become a leader in their school community are encouraged to apply. A stipend and SCECHs will be available. The deadline to submit applications is Aug. 31.

Learn more →

In response to significant changes to the FAFSA and the introduction of the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, MCAN and uAspire are offering a high-quality, certified FAFSA specialist training. Upon successful completion, participants will receive a Certified FAFSA Specialist badge, as well as other elements of recognition.
Registration deadline: Aug. 10, first-come, first-served basis
SCECHs: This training was submitted for 20 SCECHs

Learn more and register →

Registration is now open for the 2023-24 cycle of College Bound Michigan, MCAN's suite of initiatives designed to build and support college-going cultures in high schools and their surrounding communities. This program helps school counselors, college advisers, community-based partners, and other educators create systems and practices that connect all students with the opportunity for formal education beyond high school, including postsecondary certificates and academic degrees.

CBMI brings together three statewide high school initiatives — Michigan College Month, College Cash Campaign, and College Decision Day — into one campaign to help bring Michigan closer to Sixty by 30. There is no cost to participate, and all Michigan high schools and community-based organizations that work with high school students are invited to sign up. Click the register button below to learn more. Current CBMI sites, be sure to register to ensure you are included as a host site for next year! Registration will remain open through the fall, but signing up now ensures timely delivery of resources and takes something off your summer/fall to-do lists.

Why should my school or organization sign up?

As a CBMI Host Site, you will have access to:

• Exclusive funding opportunities
• Promotional materials
• Student-facing, grab-and-go resources
• Counselor/adviser-facing toolkits and implementation guides
• Professional development opportunities
  

REGISTER

Email: beaudry.nick@sccresa.org
Website: bwcan.org
Location: 499 Range Road, Marysville, MI, USA
Phone: 810.455.4261
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlueWaterCAN/
Twitter: @BlueWaterCAN