Higher education leaders in northern Michigan are weighing in on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s hopes of getting more young men enrolled in college.
In her recent State of the State Address, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pledged to sign an executive order to help with that goal.
“The last thing any of us wants is a generation of young men falling behind their fathers and grandfathers,” Whitmer said to a joint session of state lawmakers. “In Michigan, men and women want to protect and provide for their families, be financially successful and be good role models. That’s why no matter who you are, we want to help you learn more and earn more.”
In northern Michigan, where much of higher education is offered at community colleges, officials say that will take investment in programs that meet workforce needs and doing away with tuition burdens.
Reexamining ‘Michigan Reconnect’
Whitmer touted the Michigan Reconnect Program which started in 2021 as a way to offer free community college to people 25 or older who live within a community college district. But she also pointed out that women have outnumbered men in taking advantage of the program by more than a 2-to-1 ratio.
According to state data, 24,487 people enrolled in the program for the Fall 2025 semester. Over 16,000 of those applicants are women.
Todd Neibauer, vice president of student services and technology at Northwest Michigan College in Traverse City, said one way to have the program reach more men would be to allow applicants from outside the community college district — at least in rural communities like northern Michigan.
“The state will tell you that 80 percent of residents live in a community college district. But when you come up here, about 50 percent of our students are not from Grand Traverse County,” Neibauer said.
He said he wants the state to further look into Michigan Reconnect and find out what's driving some disparity based on where students live.
Nearly 650 people enrolled in the Michigan Reconnect program at NMC for the Fall 2025 semester. While NMC has the lowest difference between male and female enrollees of any Michigan community college, women still outpace men by more than 100 total applicants.
“I do believe a difference can be made,” Neibauer said. “It's really just helping folks understand what their options are. When two-thirds of your students are part time, that's because they're trying to juggle paying for rent, raising kids and all that - so the time and money [for college] are certainly barriers.”
Create desirable programs
Further north in Petoskey, North Central Michigan College is moving ahead with its Career and Technical Education Expansion (CATEE) Project. It’s a $22 million renovation to expand programs in healthcare, manufacturing and skilled trades.
NCMC Vice President of Marketing Carol Laenen said programs that focus on high-demand job markets will attract all kinds of applicants, including men.
“Skilled trades in healthcare are two of Michigan's most in demand industries, and these careers do not require traditional four year degrees,” she said. “When you invest in these programs, it gives more male students a direct, affordable pathway to high paying jobs in our region.”
According to the National Skills Coalition, a research and advocacy organization, more than half of all jobs in Michigan require more than a high school diploma, but not a four-year degree.
“These fields historically have attracted a high percentage of male students and offer strong prospects in Michigan's workforce,” Laenen said.
NCMC’s CATEE Project is expected to be completed by Fall 2026. It involves demolishing the 59-year-old technology center and replacing it with an updated facility with new labs and classrooms.
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