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Columbia, MO – April 27, 2020 – The Missouri College Access Network (MOCAN) Board of Directors welcomes the new MOCAN Executive Director, Francine Pratt, who was hired April 20, 2020. Francine Pratt served as the Prosper Springfield Director for the past three years in Springfield, MO with oversight of the city and county goals to reduce poverty and increase postsecondary attainment. Francine’s other professional experience includes serving as Missouri State University’s Executive Director for Multicultural Programs and as an instructor of Introduction to African American Studies for several years. She also served as a corporate project director, a project manager and in several statewide leadership positions in California.

Ms. Pratt was a member of the MOCAN planning committee that was responsible for creating the design, mission, and vision for MOCAN. The planning committee started meeting in June 2018 and later that year, MOCAN formalized as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. The planning committee nominated board members and Ms. Pratt was selected as the vice chair for the MOCAN board of directors. In February 2020, the first MOCAN Executive Director, Pam Fowler, gave notice. Ms. Pratt stepped down from the board and served as a consultant to lead MOCAN through the strategic planning process. Francine replaces Ms. Fowler, who was hired in September 2019. Ms. Fowler was instrumental in establishing the infrastructure for MOCAN.

Ms. Pratt stated, “I am excited for this opportunity to work with students and stakeholders across the state of Missouri to create an interconnected system that will increase access and success for students with pathways to careers and college. I am very thankful for the insight of the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority aka MOHELA, Missouri Scholarship and Loan Foundation and the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development when they first discussed the concept with the planning committee in June 2018.” The National College Attainment Network has been instrumental in helping MOCAN with its design and strategic focus. For more information about MOCAN, please visit the MOCAN website at www.mocollegeaccess.org. or contact Ms. Pratt at 573-554-4601.

Springfield, MO – August 11, 2020 –The Missouri College Access Network (MOCAN) launched a new website designed specifically to help students and others find resources all in one place. It will be demonstrated to members of the media in a “virtual launch” on Tuesday, August 11, at 1 p.m. in Springfield, Missouri.

The walk-through will be done via Zoom, with the ability for media to ask questions either in the comment section or by indicating they would like to ask a question on screen.

The website is part of the development of MOCAN, a member of the National College Attainment Network.

The mission of the Missouri College Access Network (MOCAN) is to increase career and college awareness, preparation, access, and completion in Missouri, particularly for the underrepresented and underserved.

MOCAN joins other state college access networks, including ones in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Florida, Michigan, South Dakota, and Tennessee. “It’s important for Missouri to offer this service to its communities,” says Francine Pratt, the MOCAN Executive Director. “Our intent is to provide education and college-centered direction resources and services across the state with an intentional focus for  students of color and low-income populations. We also  provide career direction—recognizing that career and certificate training are great solutions in today’s economy.”

“We are excited about providing an online resource that offers a one-stop-shop style of information about higher education as well as career training opportunities,” says Pratt. “We have a great board of directors who have been instrumental in making sure MOCAN could be brought to life in a timely manner,” she adds.

The site offers information about Missouri’s educational and funding initiatives, links to institutions of higher education across the state, and assistance for counselors and organizations as well as directly for the students. It also has a special section on the implications of COVID-19 and higher education. “Our goal is for MOCAN to provide the most up-to-date research and data on the landscape of access and completion in higher education, specifically within Missouri,” emphasizes Pratt.

Columbia, MO – August 12, 2020 –If you missed the virtual launch of our new MOCAN site, it’s available to view below. Any coverage is appreciated as students look for a resource as they make college and career decisions this month. Our website is specifically designed to provide assistance to those who are underrepresented and underserved. You are free to take any piece of the launch presentation and use it in your stories, in lieu of an interview.

MOCAN Executive Director Francine Pratt is also available for individual interviews via phone, Zoom, or reporter interview with appropriate physical distancing. Please call her at 573-554-4601 to set up a time.

Funds to be distributed across several agencies within Greene County

Springfield/Columbia, MO – September 30, 2020 – The Missouri College Access Network (MOCAN) received a grant of $360,000 from Greene County as part of the CARES Act—and the impact is expected to be felt by over 3,000 families throughout the County.

The funds are provided to administer five specific programs, all of which go toward MOCAN’s mission of increasing career and college awareness, preparation, access, and completion in Missouri, particularly for the underrepresented and underserved.

“One of the exciting things about this grant is the way it addresses technology needs,” says Francine Pratt, MOCAN Executive Director. “By partnering with the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, we learned how the pandemic brought the need to focus on internet access and affordability to the forefront. We can assist in making sure students have access to the internet for their studies—at least through the fall semester,” she says, “to help students regain what they may have lost by converting to online learning half way through the spring semester and help students stay current in their studies, which includes adult learners.”

She adds, “These funds are designed to work with organizations who know the K-12 students, their families and adult learners already. They know who needs access and who needs equipment—we don’t have to make those decisions. MOCAN’s role is to act as a convener, pulling the various components together to ensure we are working with the local organizations and educational institutions to reduce barriers to educational needs for those who need assistance.”

A full listing and description of the grant funding is available at mocollegeaccess.org/greene-county-cares-act-fund. A summary shows:

• Access to affordable internet for educational purposes for Fall 2020, which will be processed mostly through the Community Partnership of the Ozarks and MOCAN coordinating with the schools and local nonprofits.

• A technology scaled lease program, which will also be coordinated through the Community Partnership of the Ozarks and other organizations. As many as 200 devices will be purchased and loaned through identified organizations to provide a scaled lease of the equipment to students of color and adult learners who are Pell eligible. Fortunately, Springfield Public Schools provides chrome books and internet access for their 26,000 students. However, sometimes additional devices are needed such as printers/scanners and related supplies.

• Mentoring & tutoring programs aimed at those students most impacted by the lack of affordable access to internet services, which caused many students to fall behind during the last semester. Students for this program will be recommended by community-based and faith-based organizations as well as Springfield Public Schools and the Greene County higher education institutions.

• Establish the Bridge Springfield: Brother to Brother programs with the Grant Beach Boys and Girls Club and with Springfield Public Schools Middle Schools and High Schools. This is a development program and support system for mainly male students impacted by historical inequities: African American males and males from underserved populations who were faced with the greatest disparities because of COVID-19.

• An outreach program to provide information about recent workforce and short-term job training programs developed locally and by the Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development.

Organizations identified to receive funds have been established previously in Greene County. The plan is also to use local vendors, when possible, to purchase equipment and supplies, according to Ms. Pratt. While she expects CARES Act funds to be released throughout the state, she explains that “Greene County was a priority since it has the broadband and infrastructure already in place to move quickly. I expect the work we do here to serve as a model for further statewide projects that focus on addressing Internet access and affordability. I also want to publicly thank the Green County Commissioners, the three-stage review process and Dr. Foster for recognizing MOCAN’s focused attention to the students and their pursuit to increase their education.”

Greene County has established a “transparency dashboard” where reports of funding distributions are updated on a regular basis. That dashboard can be accessed at greenecountymo.gov/cares/awards/. Funds received by MOCAN have to be spent by December 30, 2020, showing the importance of addressing immediate needs within Greene County due to the pandemic.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a $2 trillion relief program passed by Congress on March 27, 2020 with the stated intent that it “provides fast and direct economic assistance for American workers and families, small businesses, and preserves jobs for American industries.” You can find more information about the CARES Act at home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/cares.