The Michigan ACE Women’s Network is dedicated to improving the quality of higher education through its extensive leadership and policy agendas. Emphasis is placed on the importance of bringing current issues to the attention of our membership, policymakers, and the multiple constituencies which they represent. The MI-ACE Women’s Network is committed to championing the cause for improving the institutional culture and professional environment for women in the state of Michigan and the nation at large.

The MI-ACE Women’s Network demonstrates in policy and practice that it “Stands for Women in Higher Education.” The public policy agenda builds on the collective expertise of our membership as they develop leadership skills and advance, network, and support women in higher education throughout the state. The agenda creates a strategy to interact with local, state, institutional and national policymakers and elected public officials regarding these matters.

The Policy Agenda enables members to:

• Have access to accurate and timely information about policy issues so members and member institutions can access a broad base of comprehensive information via our website.

• Know the issues: what they are, what they mean, and how to discuss them.

• Serve as the “policy eyes and ears” for IRs and the Executive Board by providing a significant benefit to the IRs and their campus leaders at member institutions. Programs should be developed to teach advocacy principles and strategies to enhance learning and communication with the media and the public.

• As follow-up to our commitment involvement with issues dealing with Welfare Reform, the committee held conversations with the Michigan ACLU. We also developed correspondence that was sent to members of the Michigan state legislature regarding funding needs for higher education. We are also involved in national policy discussions on workforce development.