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 still has 2 openings for College Advisers at Marine City and Capac High Schools for the upcoming school year. Advisers serve alongside counselors, college access organizations, and additional school professionals to help students and families explore their postsecondary options and complete college-going steps. Learn more and apply today!

AdviseMI - Marine City High School

MSUCAC - Capac Jr./Sr. High School

High school students taking classes at the St. Clair County RESA Technical Education Center who are interested in an associate’s degree via an additional year of study in computer programming, digital media, engineering and robotics, health, info technology or welding can enroll in the CTMC.

LEARN MORE

Did you know SC4 alumni are healthcare leaders, educators, engineers, doctors, lawyers, welders, scientists, officials, public safety officers, designers, managers, entrepreneurs, artists and more? And that most of our students transfer on to earn bachelor's and graduate degrees? Some of our many alumni are highlighted below, with more featured on our news site.

• Aug. 21: Fall classes begin.
• Sept. 1: Applications for SC4's Licensed Practical Nursing Program are due for those wishing to start in winter 2024.
• Sept. 18: Fast-path 12-week classes begin.
• Oct. 1: Applications for SC4's Transition Nursing (AASNT) Program are due for those wishing to start in winter 2024.
• Oct. 16: Fast-path eight-week classes begin.
• Oct. 30: Winter 2024 registration opens.
• December: FAFSA form available for 2024-25 school year

Registration is now open for fall classes! Winter 2024 registration opens Oct. 30!

• For dual enrollment process or middle college registration help, please contact Carrie Bearss at (810) 989-5500 or deenrollment@sc4.edu.
• We continue to update our Counselor's page online. Please be sure to visit often for updated information!
• For help with SC4 admissions or campus tours, contact the Admissions team at (810) 989-5520 or starthere@sc4.edu.

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, Finances After College and Making Loan Payments, Erica talks about how to navigate loan payments and your own finances so you can make sure you're on the path to get your loans paid off and you don't have any negative effects on your finances and credit after college. 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.

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/

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 and find information for 2023.

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 →

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