The Wayne State University College of Nursing's C2 Pipeline program was recently awarded two 2014-15 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) grants. The federally funded 21st CCLC is administered through the Michigan Department of Education Office of Great Start/Early Childhood Education and Family Services. The two five-year grants -- each for $675,000 per year for five years -- will allow the C2 Pipeline to expand the college-and-career-readiness program to 10 additional high schools. The college also has a current C2 Pipeline program grant in its third year. The three grants total $10,125,000. 

C2 Pipeline focuses on providing expanded academic enrichment opportunities to help high school students attending low-performing schools in the Detroit metropolitan area prepare for college admission and science, technology, education and mathematics (STEM) careers, including nursing. This is accomplished through a project-based learning environment that focuses on health careers to enhance the student's secondary educational experience. The 38-week program model includes two and a half hours of after-school activities Monday through Thursday for 32 weeks and six weeks of summer programming.

 "The program is unique in that we are the only one in the state with this structure and purpose," said Donald Neal, project manager for the C2 Pipeline program.  "It is a working collaborative of many different partners. These are truly partners, with everyone bringing something to the table in order to reach these high school students."  

Campus partners include Wayne State's College of Nursing; School of Medicine; School of Social Work; College of Engineering; the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; the Irvin D. Reid Honors College; the College of Education's Division of Kinesiology, Health and Sport Studies; and The WSU Academic Success Center.

In addition to this core group, other collaborators include Michigan AHEC's Southeast Regional Center; Detroit Community Health Connection; Northwestern Connecticut AHEC; Build ON; Detroit Food Academy; Michigan 4-H; Michigan Department of Human Services; Wayne County Children's Services; Great Lakes Council, Boy Scouts of America; Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan; Henry Ford Hospital Institute of Multicultural Health; Urban IPO; Children's Resource Network; University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry; and many other local groups that have direct contact with each individual school.

Program goals include preparing students to become college and/or career ready by increasing academic achievement and student learning, increasing student awareness through career enrichment and other non-academic learning, providing family services, and providing a safe and nurturing environment. The program aligns with the Michigan State Board of Education's Goal and Reform Priorities.  Additionally, all activities offered align with each school's improvement plan, Common Core, Next Generation Science Standards and individual district goals. The daily schedule includes supper, academic center and enrichment as well as field trips and special events.  

Summer programs are held on Wayne State University's campus and include both day and residential offerings that directly tie into campus partners. This includes the first of its kind, two-week Health Inter-professional Camp - WSU C2 Pipeline Warriors College Experience held this July.

The current grant funds the program at the following schools:
•    Ecorse High School
•    East Detroit High School
•    Cody High School (Medicine and Community Health Academy)
•    Oak Park High School
•    Detroit Collegiate Prep (DCP) formally Detroit Northwestern High School

The two new grants will fund the program at the following schools:
•    Southfield Lathrup High School
•    Southfield Regional Academy
•    Pontiac Academy of Excellence
•    South Lake High School
•    University High School
•    Harper Woods High School
•    Waterford Mott High School
•    Warren Mott High School
•    Clintondale High School
•    Michigan Collegiate High School

Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution of higher education offering 370 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 28,000 students.