Commitments to Detroit chamber initiatives will open pathways for Southeast Michigan residents

Grand Valley's participation in two Detroit Regional Chamber initiatives will help strengthen the postsecondary talent pipeline in Southeast Michigan.

The chamber's Detroit Drives Degrees (D3) Talent Compact seeks to increase the proportion of individuals with college degrees and high-skill credentials in the region. D3 then launched the Data Collaborative to support regional data sharing and analysis through a Postsecondary Data Partnership of 13 colleges and universities in the area, including GVSU.

Shawntae Mintline, GVSU Omni director for Southeast Michigan, said these initiatives and partnerships will help break down barriers and advance college and career success for students and families in Southeast Michigan. Mintline added that the work is more important than ever as the Talent Compact wants to increase the number of area residents with college degrees and high-skill credentials from 53% to 60% by 2030.

"This work supports Grand Valley students who want a more traditional campus experience in Allendale or Grand Rapids, as well as those who will learn locally through our Omni programs in Detroit and other Southeast Michigan communities," Mintline said. "Being part of these initiatives helps us better serve both student populations and deepens the university's role as a partner in building a stronger, more equitable future for the region."

Other chamber initiatives

Mintline and Adam Downs, associate vice president for Omni, belong to the chamber's Credit Mobility Coalition, with a focus on recognizing a student's prior learning, transfer credits and credentials when they move between institutions. Mintline said this work connects directly to the Division of Enrollment Development and Educational Outreach's Strategic Enrollment Management Plan.

"To best serve these students, we’re always looking for ways to strengthen the transparency and consistency of our transfer and credit mobility processes and the Credit Mobility Coalition is a great partner in that effort," she said.

Mintline, Mike Eichberger, school partnership specialist, and Jenny Baweja, program director for Allied Health Sciences, are members of the Detroit Regional Health Care Talent Collaborative, which aims to develop strategies to respond to the health care talent crisis in the Detroit region.