The Oceana Community Foundation (OCF) and Baker College today announced a new partnership designed to expand educational access, increase degree completion and strengthen the regional workforce. The collaboration was formally established through the signing of a Complete Your Degree (CYD) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at a brief ceremony held Wednesday, April 8 at Baker College in Muskegon. This new MOU expands student choice regionally, building on OCF's collaboration with Muskegon Community College and West Shore Community College since the program’s launch in 2022.
The agreement connects eligible Baker College students from Oceana County with OCF’s Complete Your Degree program, which provides targeted support to help adult learners overcome financial and life barriers that can prevent them from finishing a college credential.
“At Baker College, we’ve seen firsthand that students need more than tuition assistance to successfully complete their degrees,” President of Baker College Dr. Jacqui Spicer said. “Through this partnership, Baker College students from Oceana County may be eligible to apply for the Foundation’s Complete Your Degree program, gaining access to the additional support they need to cross the finish line.”
OCF’s Complete Your Degree program focuses on students who have some college experience or want to start college but face challenges that may disrupt their educational progress. The program offers last-dollar financial assistance, dedicated coaching, academic advising, and clear pathways to credential completion — support designed to carry students from enrollment through graduation, not just at entry.
“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to educational access, completion, and workforce success,” OCF Executive Director Tammy Carey said. “Too many capable adults leave college just short of their goals — not because of ability, but because of financial, family or life challenges. Complete Your Degree exists to remove those barriers and help learners move forward with confidence.”
Baker College was identified as another ideal partner due to its strong track record of serving adult learners pursuing high-demand careers and its emphasis on flexible pathways, recognition of prior learning, and wraparound student support services. Together, OCF and its three institutional partners are creating a coordinated approach to reduce college stop-outs and increase degree completion.
“A completed degree doesn’t just change an individual’s life,” Carey added. “It strengthens families, supports employers and contributes to the long-term economic stability of our community. This partnership is an investment with lasting returns for Oceana County and the surrounding region.”
The signing ceremony included remarks from both organizations, the formal execution of the agreement, and a photo opportunity recognizing the collaboration. It concluded with informal conversations and refreshments provided by the Culinary Institute of Michigan.
“This MOU is more than an agreement—it’s a promise,” said Carey. “A promise to learners that their goals matter and that their community believes in them. The real impact will be seen when students walk across the stage.”
For more information about the Complete Your Degree program, visit www.oceanafoundation.org
