Oakland University’s new partnership with Lansing Promise expands opportunities for Lansing students

Oakland University’s new partnership with the Lansing Promise scholarship program is creating additional opportunities for Lansing students to pursue a college education while receiving financial support to help make it possible.

For OU junior Jaida Moore, the partnership represents a continuation of a promise she first learned about years ago.

Growing up in Lansing, Moore was introduced to the Lansing Promise program in sixth grade, when students learned about an initiative designed to make higher education more affordable.

“I remember when they first started the Lansing Promise program,” Moore said. “They had a ceremony and gave us each award letters that would guarantee a certain amount of money that would go toward our financial aid if we decided to pursue higher education.”

At the time, college was still years away. But the promise of financial support stayed with her.

Today, that early introduction to the program has helped Moore navigate her college journey, first at Lansing Community College and now at Oakland University, one of the program’s newest partner schools.

A graduate of Everett High School, Moore began earning college credits through dual enrollment at Lansing Community College during her senior year. She continued there for her freshman year before exploring options for completing her bachelor’s degree.

Oakland University was among the first universities she visited.

“I started looking around to see what school would fit my needs, and I heard about OU’s communication program and that it was a really good resource for the aspirations I had,” she said. “That’s why I came here.”

Moore is now pursuing a degree in communication, with a particular interest in public relations. Through her coursework and involvement on campus, she has gained opportunities to explore the field and consider potential career paths.

As part of classes she’s taken in OU’s Communication, Journalism and Public Relations department, Moore has visited public relations agencies and other organizations throughout the Detroit area, giving her a closer look at the profession and the variety of opportunities it offers.

“I’m really interested in working at a PR agency with different clients to build whatever public representation they want to have,” she said.

Outside the classroom, Moore is involved with Oakland’s Public Relations Student Society of America chapter, serving on the executive board’s events team. She also participates in Beyond the Campus, a student advocacy campaign that collects stories about students and their college experiences.

Last spring, she served as an Admissions Ambassador, leading campus tours and volunteering at events for new and prospective students.

Moore has also found new opportunities to explore her interest in language and culture. She studied Spanish through an immersion program from prekindergarten through sixth grade, an experience that sparked a lasting interest in the language and culture.

“I love the culture, and I’ve always been immersed in it, so I thought, why not keep it going in college?” she said.

She has carried that interest into her college studies, complementing her communication major with a minor in Spanish. In spring 2027, she plans to take part in a Spanish and cultural immersion program in Costa Rica.

While there, Moore will live with a host family, learn about Costa Rican history and participate in activities designed to deepen her understanding of the country’s language and culture.

She said the Lansing Promise scholarship support has helped make opportunities like this more accessible by easing some of the financial pressures that come with pursuing a college education.

“It was such a great opportunity, and it came at the right time for me,” Moore said. “It has really helped me be able to navigate school without having financial worries.”

Through the Lansing Promise Scholarship Program, eligible first-time college students can receive up to $5,000 per year for up to four years. Transfer students can receive $5,000 per year for two years.

With Oakland University now a Lansing Promise partner, eligible students have another pathway to earning a four-year degree. They can apply this support toward a wide range of OU academic programs, helping reduce the financial barriers to higher education.

“We are thrilled to be a new partner with the Lansing Promise,” said Nicole Boelk, OU’s director of Financial Aid and Scholarships. “The Lansing Promise funding, along with Oakland University’s commitment to affordability, really is a game changer for many students, and we can’t wait to welcome more Lansing students to campus.”

For Moore, the transition from Lansing Community College to Oakland University was a positive one. She credits OU with helping transfer students become comfortable in a new academic environment and connecting them with campus organizations and activities that match their interests.

“I think OU does an amazing job of helping transfer students transition from one college to another,” Moore said. “They made the transfer process super easy.”

She has also embraced the experience of living on campus, where she has built new friendships and found a welcoming community.

“At the beginning, I was homesick just because I was used to being around my family all the time. But once I started getting involved in more things and exploring different opportunities, I really started to enjoy living on campus,” she said. “I’ve met a ton of amazing people.”

For more information about financial aid and scholarships at OU, visit oakland.edu/financialaid.