Albion College, Kellogg Community College and Marshall Public Schools today announced the Building the Future Workforce partnership which will develop joint educational programming focused on workforce development and increasing access to post-secondary education in the region.

“We have a great deal of untapped potential in our local community,” said Becky Jones, interim superintendent of Marshall Public Schools. “Through this new partnership, we’ll create pathways to educate and empower lifelong learners across our region.”

The partnership will allow the three organizations to develop a K-16 pipeline, expanding access to comprehensive training and education across the local region, which includes Barry, Branch, Calhoun and Jackson counties.

“By pooling our collective resources, we’ll tap into talent across the region and impact learners throughout their educational journey,” said Dr. Adrien Bennings, president of Kellogg Community College. “Together, we have a real opportunity to shape the future workforce by providing on-ramps to post-secondary education both when students graduate high school and throughout their college career.”

The initial stages of the partnership will include regular meetings, research and planning, with an ultimate goal of building a comprehensive workforce development ecosystem for the region.

“The landscape of higher education is changing, and our schools, colleges and universities have a responsibility to ensure that a quality education remains accessible to all,” said Dr. Mathew Johnson, president of Albion College. “Through this partnership, we’re building a future workforce that is strong, adaptable, and prepared to meet the challenges of tomorrow.”

The three organizations have a strong track record of partnership. In June of 2021, Albion College and Kellogg Community College partnered to smooth the transfer process through a new articulation agreement. This summer, Albion College and Marshall Public Schools (MPS) announced a partnership with several other local community organizations to create the Albion Family and Community Collaborative. Designed to bridge the gap between local families and existing support networks, the Collaborative will offer holistic education and well-being programming for children, youth and families in and around the City of Albion.

For more information, visit albion.edu.

About Albion College

Albion College is a private liberal arts college of approximately 1,500 students and is nationally recognized for its academic excellence in the liberal arts tradition, a learning-centered commitment, and a future-oriented perspective. The College is a leader in preparing students to anticipate, solve and prevent problems in order to improve the human and global condition. Albion immerses students in the creation and processing of knowledge and graduates skilled architects of societal change, active citizens, and future leaders. The College is dedicated to the highest quality in undergraduate education and is committed to diversity as a core institutional value.

Albion, Michigan is a culturally diverse community in the south-central part of the state. The College recognizes the value of community, both on- and off-campus, and has invested resources in supporting the revitalization of the greater Albion community. This work offers an increasingly vibrant city around the campus that provides students with a fuller experience as they prepare to become engaged citizens in their own communities. For more information, visit albion.edu.

About Kellogg Community College

Kellogg Community College, founded in 1956, serves approximately 9,000 students annually via five campuses, customized training and online coursework. The College offers 60 pre-professional transfer curricula; 37 associate degree programs; 25 certificate programs; seven categories of professional certifications; and a variety of short-term, non-credit courses. For more information, visit kellogg.edu.

About Marshall Public Schools

At Marshall Public Schools, every student is unique; and we will honor and respect the individual differences that our students bring into our schools so we may create a more inclusive, globally relevant teaching and learning environment where all students feel valued and take personal ownership for their growth and achievements. We are committed to creating a system of education through innovative collaborations and partnerships that provides equal access for all students to a quality teaching and learning experience offering multiple pathways toward successful career attainment. For more information, visit marshallpublicschools.org.