Episode 6. Credit Where Credit Is Due (with Brandy Johnson and Lee Graham)
What if the choice between college and the skilled trades is a false one? In this episode, Venessa Keesler sits down with Lee Graham of the Operating Engineers 324 and Brandy Johnson of the Michigan Community College Association to explore how Michigan is connecting registered apprenticeships, community colleges, and career pathways. Together, they discuss a groundbreaking initiative that awards college credit for apprenticeship learning, helping workers earn degrees faster, reduce barriers to advancement, and build stronger pathways from high school to high-demand careers.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Michigan Achievement Scholarship – Community College Guarantee
The Community College Guarantee helps eligible recent high school graduates earn a degree or certificate at a community college or Tribal college. The scholarship covers in-district tuition and mandatory fees, with out-of-district students receiving an award up to the in-district rate. Students must begin enrollment within 15 months of high school graduation and may receive the scholarship for up to three years. Learn more about the Community College Guarantee.
Michigan Reconnect
Michigan Reconnect provides a tuition-free pathway to an associate degree or skills certificate for eligible Michigan adults. The last-dollar scholarship covers in-district tuition, mandatory fees and contact hours at a Michigan community college or Tribal college. Learn more about Michigan Reconnect.
Michigan College Credit for Apprenticeships Program (MI-CCAP)
MI-CCAP connects registered apprenticeship training with college credit, helping apprentices and journey workers receive credit for college-level learning they have already completed and creating more efficient pathways toward a college degree. The initiative brings together Michigan community colleges and Tribal colleges, registered apprenticeship programs, labor partners, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, and the American Council on Education (ACE), a national higher education association. Learn more about MI-CCAP.
