Gov. Jay Nixon announced Sept. 23 that Missouri will receive two $1 million grants from USA Funds, a nonprofit organization, to expand the existing program Missouri Innovation Campus and promote career-based learning in Missouri schools.
According to its website, USA Funds is a nonprofit organization that aims to assist students in earning a higher education that provides them with valuable work training. Their goal is to increase the rate of post-secondary education as well making it more financially possible for students.
MIC, which will receive $1 million, began in 2012 as a $9 million initiative by Nixon to improve the state’s career education. The money gave local colleges, high schools and businesses the ability to partner with one another to create a curriculum that matches the demand careers.
MIC is a collaboration between the University of Central Missouri, Lee’s Summit School District, Metropolitan Community College and several local businesses. Its headquarters are located at the Summit Technology Academy in Lee’s Summit.
MIC currently involves 60 enrolled students from 19 area high schools.
“Students begin the MIC program their junior year of high school and, by the time they earn their diploma, they also will graduate with an associate degree from Metropolitan Community College, which has a campus in Lee’s Summit,” said Jeff Murphy, University of Central Missouri media relations assistant.
The program meets the demands of a competitive job market and alleviates the problem of student debt.
“They wind up finishing their four-year degree two years ahead of most students who began high school with them,” Murphy said. “While attending high school and college, students have the opportunity to benefit from internships with high-tech companies.”
The MIC received national attention when President Barack Obama visited UCM in July 2013, applauding the program for helping high school students earn a bachelor’s degree from community college upon graduation while gaining career training.
“That is exactly the kind of innovation we need when it comes to college costs,” Obama said when he spoke at UCM last year. “I want the entire country to notice it.”
The news release from the governor’s office Tuesday stated that the other half of the grant will go toward four-year universities in Missouri. It is undecided as of now how exactly this $1 million will be used, but Nixon said his vision is to strengthen Missouri colleges’ abilities to provide graduates with valuable job experience.
“These funds will accelerate the progress we’re making to provide more Missourians access to an affordable college degree that prepares them for the jobs of today and tomorrow,” Nixon said.
