MiCUP Scholars Program | Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI)

The MiCUP Scholars Program is a collaborative effort between three Michigan community colleges and Michigan Tech, which brings students to Michigan Tech's campus for 7 weeks in the summer to participate in a research or project experience with a staff, faculty or graduate Student mentor. Student participants are enrolled in an honors research course, complete community services, and end the program with a research poster presentation.

Our partners are:

The MiCUP Scholars Program encourages you to continue to follow your dream of a higher education after community college. If you come from a low-income background or are the first in your family to go to college, the MiCUP Scholars Program makes the transition to a four-year university an achievable goal. This program is targeted specifically to students interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and is highly competitive with only 14 available spots. Priority is given to students studying STEM disciplines.

Program Brochure

About the Program

In the MiCUP summer program, you will learn by doing - the best approach to succeeding in STEM disciplines. MiCUP can show you what it is like to live and study on a university campus, how to navigate the challenges, and how to make the most of opportunities. The summer experience also includes recreational activities, tutoring sessions, social events, and weekly meetings with MiCUP directors to ensure that you are prepared for a smooth and positive transition to a university environment.

You will participate in a seven-week summer research experience at Michigan Tech, which includes:

living in a residence hall on campus,
taking a 1-credit university course,
Working directly with a faculty member on a research project.

Requirements

If interested, you must:

have a minimum of 2.80 GPA at your community college
have completed at least one year at your community college (24 credits)
wish to continue your education at a four-year institution
be a US citizen or permanent resident
be a resident of Michigan

MiCUP’s Summer Research Internship begins the first week of May and continues through June. The required orientation weekend starts the Friday before the program begins.

Benefits

As a part of the MiCUP Summer Program you will receive:

housing and meals in a Michigan Tech residence hall
a scholarship for a 1-credit university summer course
a $2500 stipend for your participation in research
an opportunity to develop a professional research poster alongside a faculty member
greater earning potential! The Bureau of Labor estimates that people with a bachelor's degree earn about 20 percent more per week than those with an associate's degree.

How to Apply

All applicants should meet with their Community College liaison for support and guidance through the application process. The online application can be found below. Be sure to complete the application that corresponds to the college that you are enrolled at.

MiCUP Scholars Program Contacts

Delta College

Monica Hernandez-Alaniz, Associate Student Success Counselor
Email: monicahernandez@delta.edu

Grand Rapids Community College

Anna Maria Clark, Program Advisor
Email: aclark@grcc.edu
Phone: 616-234-4150

Michigan Technological University

Christopher Sanders, MiCUP Coordinator, Center for Diversity and Inclusion
Email: cjsande1@mtu.edu
Phone: 906-487-2920

Wayne County Community College District

Dr. Tammy Anderson, Associate Vice Chancellor of District Student Services
Email: tanders2@wcccd.edu
Phone: 313-496-2689

The MiCUP program evolved from the King-Chavez-Parks Initiative that Michigan's Department of Labor and Economic Growth established in 2000 to give the state's most educationally disadvantaged citizens an opportunity to complete college degrees, preferably in STEM fields, and obtain employment. The MiCUP Transfer Transition Program began in 2000 as the MiCUP Unlock Your Future Program. Michigan Tech received a five-year grant in 2006 and a six-year grant in 2011. In 2017, the King-Chavez-Parks Initiative awarded Michigan Tech a six-year grant to continue this shared goal.