New initiative guarantees EMU admission for Ypsi and Ann Arbor students

On the Ground Ypsilanti is an “embedded journalism” program covering the city and township of Ypsilanti. It is supported by Ann Arbor SPARK, the Center for Health and Research Transformation, Destination Ann Arbor, Eastern Michigan University, Engage @ EMU, Washtenaw Community College, Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission, and Washtenaw ISD.

Eastern Michigan University (EMU), Ypsilanti Community Schools (YCS), and the Early College Alliance at EMU (ECA) have partnered to guarantee EMU admission to local high school graduates.

The new direct admissions initiative is designed to streamline the path from high school to college and expand access for local students. It is open to high school students who have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA, are on track to graduate from high school, and currently attend YCS, ECA, or Ann Arbor Public Schools. The initiative removes application barriers while also providing coordinated support for families navigating the college enrollment process.

“EMU has a long relationship with YCS,” says EMU Director of Admissions Dr. LaJoyce Brown. “Together we wanted to create a process that was more welcoming, streamlined, and student-centered.”

Through the initiative, eligible students are proactively identified by their schools and invited to apply directly to EMU with no application fee. Brown says the goal is to shift how students think about college access. She says the program builds on the existing relationship between EMU and local school districts while rethinking how students first engage with higher education.

“Higher education should be accessible and in reach right in our own community,” she says. “We want to help students and families shift from asking if they can go to college into saying ‘Yes, I can, right here.’”

Ypsilanti Community Schools Superintendent Alena Zachery-Ross says the program is designed not only to admit students to EMU, but to help them feel they belong at the university from the moment they receive their invitation.

“EMU reaches out to that scholar and makes them feel like they belong,” Zachery-Ross says. “This bridge is now formed so that the scholar feels welcome. They see themselves as an EMU Eagle.”

Zachery-Ross says the initiative addresses three key barriers to college access: financial obstacles, psychological hesitation, and the complexity of the admissions process. By eliminating application fees and providing Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and enrollment support, she says the program aims to reduce a “psychological barrier” for students.

“Instead of just making them apply, EMU is proactively reaching out to every eligible YCS senior,” she says.

Brown notes that the program also includes a range of supports, including admissions information sessions, financial aid webinars, campus visits, and personalized outreach to students and families.

“We are committed to helping students navigate each step,” Brown says. “This is about building relationships, creating confidence, and ensuring that students know they have a community ready to support them through the college experience.”

The partnership is intended to strengthen what Brown describes as a long-term pipeline between YCS and EMU while increasing awareness of academic programs and scholarship opportunities. Zachery-Ross says the initiative also has broader community implications, including encouraging students to pursue careers in education and potentially return to serve in Ypsilanti schools.

“We strengthen our whole community when we strengthen the scholars,” Zachery-Ross says.

More information about the direct admission program can be found on EMU’s website. All questions regarding admissions can be directed to undergraduate_admissions@emich.edu.

“This is about investing in students and the future of our community in Ypsi,” Brown says. “When more students earn college degrees, it creates broader economic opportunity, strengthens the workforce, and positively impacts generations to come.”