On April 30, 2025, we received official confirmation that College Possible Wisconsin’s AmeriCorps funding was terminated as part of the $400 million in federal grant cuts.This loss was real and painful.This affected College Possible staff, our school partners, AmeriCorps members, and most importantly, the students we serve.
For nearly two decades, College Possible Wisconsin’s mission has always centered on providing access to college success through personalized coaching and student-centered programming. That work was powered by dedicated AmeriCorps members whose service helped thousands of students pursue their college dreams.
In response, and with a focus on long-term sustainability and greater impact, we made the thoughtful decision to shift to a new coaching model that was already piloted by other College Possible sites with positive early results. This approach pairs full-time professional staff with a student-facing AI platform that offers 24/7 support. Built in partnership with Salesforce, this generative AI tool draws on nearly 25 years of knowledge to deliver immediate, personalized guidance. Students now have constant access to our curriculum and resources, while advisors can focus on building stronger, more meaningful relationships.
“I’m optimistic about the long-term positive outcomes of this new program model,” says Executive Director Marco Morrison. “With full-time, professional coaches in place, many of whom are former AmeriCorps members or have supervised them in the past, students will benefit from deeper, long-term relationships and the expertise of professionals, who bring both field experience and enduring insight into college access and career readiness.”
Key to the successful transition was the swift redeployment of College Possible Wisconsin’s program coordinators: experienced, full-time professionals already deeply familiar with our model.
These team members stepped into schools to provide direct student coaching with professionalism and care, ensuring no lapse in service. Their leadership and familiarity with our model allowed for a seamless handoff of responsibilities and uninterrupted support for students.
“Just because the federal funding was eliminated didn’t mean the need went away,” said Carolyn Muckelberg, senior director of development. “Our students were still there, and they still deserved our full support.”
By transitioning to this new model, we are preserving and strengthening College Possible’s 15-year legacy of proven impact in Wisconsin. This future-ready approach empowers us to better support students in earning their college degrees–unlocking greater economic mobility, long-term stability, and the opportunity to uplift themselves, their families, and their communities. It also enables us to extend our reach, deepen our impact, and reduce reliance on volatile funding streams, positioning us for long-term resilience.
To our students, families, partners, and supporters: thank you for standing with us through this pivotal transition. College Possible Wisconsin remains steadfastly committed to helping students realize their potential for generations to come.
