WMU named one of five universities to lead new state teacher preparation program

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University has been named one of five premier higher education institutions selected to launch the 2026 Education Preparation Provider (EPP) Collaborative. This two-year statewide initiative, led by the Michigan Educator Workforce Initiative (MEWI), is designed to fundamentally transform how Michigan recruits, prepares, and retains its teaching workforce.

"WMU is excited to be part of this initiative," said WMU President Russ Kavalhuna. "This important work will deepen our collaboration with school districts and K–12 mentor teachers in providing Experience‑Driven Learning through high‑quality internships."

The EPP Collaborative aims to bridge the gap between university instruction and the real-world needs of Michigan’s P-12 classrooms. By establishing stronger, data-informed partnerships with local school districts, WMU will work to ensure that teacher candidates are not only ready for their first day of school but are equipped for long-term career success.

As a top producer of educators in the state, WMU joins Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Michigan State University, and Northern Michigan University in this elite cohort. According to Jack Elsey, founding partner and CEO of MEWI, together, these five institutions prepare approximately 40% of Michigan’s new teachers each year, representing more than 1,000 educators entering the workforce annually.

Over the next two years, Western will partner with national experts from edPrep Partners and 2Revolutions to execute a rigorous initiative focused on four transformative pillars: utilizing shared data to bridge candidate readiness gaps, emphasizing high-quality mentored clinical experiences, creating more affordable and flexible pathways into the profession, and establishing sustainable systems for continuous improvement through the edPrep Partners Performance Framework.

"This initiative ensures our programs are being responsive to the skills and needs districts expect, while helping our teacher candidates secure and thrive in their future jobs, " said Dr. Laura Dinehart, dean of the College of Eduction and Human Development.

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