Photo courtesy of Pixels/Yan Krukov)

BARAGA — New grants for colleges and universities are aimed to expand student emergency aid and student services.

This year, $7.8 million will become available for initiatives to increase the number of college graduates and skill certificate holders.

The money is part of a $45 million budget for secondary education from federal and state funding, said Michelle Richard, the deputy director of higher education at the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential.

According to Richard, that money is running out.

Whitmer’s 2026 executive budget recommendation proposed a “4% ongoing increase for university and community college operations to enhance higher education learning.”

In January, officials announced that 48 institutions that applied last year for funding would receive over $10 million in grants.

One recipient is Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College in Baraga, which received over $1.4 million.

“Tribal colleges aren’t state-funded at all,” said Megan Haataja, the interim president of the college.

“Other community colleges and universities are state-funded. The majority of our funding is grants and tuition, and we receive some money from the federal Bureau of Indian Education,” part of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Almost $1 million will address an increased demand in science and nursing programs, said Haataja.

One of the main challenges students face amid the growing interest in nursing is that the college is “45 minutes from the nearest hospital that would allow students to do nursing clinicals,” said Haataja.

In addition to making a classroom in empty building space and updating a chemistry lab with new equipment, the college’s food pantry will be expanded over the next three years to provide free lunches and food for students, said Haataja.

Erica Orians, the vice president of the Michigan Community College Association, said, “Since the pandemic, colleges have seen how necessary it is to have a pool of funds to provide students with emergency aid.”

Another recipient was Alpena Community College, which received over $108,000. Of that, $75,000 will go toward evaluating student success.

So far, the college’s research has found common issues students face include “financial struggles, transportation barriers, child care issues, food and housing insecurity as well as mental health concerns,” said Kristen Wisniewski, the college’s grant director.

The college’s vice president of instruction, Paige Gordier, said 35-37 of about 1,500 students apply for emergency aid every semester, and around 80% will receive aid.

Gordier said the grant will assist students who can’t pay for things like tuition, book fees, child care, car repairs or housing.

The grants will also support the college’s food pantry and possibly sustain the college’s graduation rate, according to Wisniewski.

“If students feel like they belong and they’re supported, then they might be more likely to succeed academically,” she said. “So there could be increased retention and interest in graduating.”

Other colleges that received funding include: Mid Michigan College, $415,244; Wayne State University, $696,450; North Central Community College, $396,500; West Shore Community College, $33,660; Ferris State University, $626,501; and Oakland University, $297,583.