The mission of GRAHEN is to create an awareness of life-long learning opportunities for adults at colleges and universities in the Greater Grand Rapids area.

As an employer, you know that finding and training qualified employees is challenging. That's why many employers are beginning to offer employees comprehensive reimbursement for education. Now, you just have to direct your employees to a college or university to begin completing classes towards a degree.

And as a student or potential student, you know it isn't easy to return to school as an adult. There are countless demands on time and money from family, work, friends and hobbies. Learning to balance these priorities with college classes is a challenge. But, you know if you never start, you'll never finish.

The first step in getting started is finding the right programs, the right classes, the right place for you or your employees.

With 13 colleges and universities as members of GRAHEN, we work collaboratively to promote life-long learning in the West Michigan area, foster discussion of higher education issues, and encourage employers to support professional development of their employees.

For more information on GRAHEN, send an email to nicholas.murphy@phoenix.edu. For information on its members individually, please visit the Members section for contact information.