MCAN awards Albion College $10,000 to aid course redesigns

Albion College is part of the Michigan College Access Network’s (MCAN) Gateway Course Redesign Faculty Academy, an 18-month, faculty-driven initiative designed to support colleges and universities in rethinking and restructuring key gateway courses at scale.

In collaboration with Almy Education and Sova, MCAN said the academy is grounded in national research and best practices and built for faculty, by faculty. Albion was awarded $10,000 to help bring their course redesign efforts to life.

“Michigan’s colleges and universities play a vital role in equipping students with the degrees and credentials that open doors to economic mobility and align with the state’s changing workforce needs,” said Ryan Fewins-Bliss, MCAN executive director. “When gateway courses — core subjects like English, math, biology, and chemistry — are redesigned to reduce barriers and prioritize student success, they can boost achievement, strengthen retention, and increase completion rates.”

Through technical assistance, tailored support, and cross-institutional collaboration, the Academy equips teams to redesign gateway courses with equity and effectiveness in mind. 

In addition to Albion, participating institutions include Baker College, Bay College, Calvin University, Central Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, Kellogg Community College, Lake Superior State University; Montcalm Community College; Oakland Community College, Oakland University; Rochester Christian University, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College, and Western Michigan University.