Northern Michigan University to participate in 2026 Education Preparation Provider Collaborative

Northern Michigan University is participating in the 2026 Education Preparation Provider Collaborative’s Michigan Educator Workforce Initiative, an effort that will seek to improve the quality of teacher preparation programs in the state, as well as the recruitment and retention within those programs. 

According to an article on Northern Michigan University’s website, Joe Lubig, who is part of the university’s School of Education, Leadership and Public Service, is the principal investigator of the grant. He is quoted as saying of the university’s participation in the project, “NMU chose to be part of the EPP Collaborative so we could partner with the 30 community and tribal colleges in Michigan to design clearly articulated pathways for initial teacher licensure in both early childhood and elementary education. A huge part of our effort will be to develop the most cost-efficient pathway around a high-quality curriculum that immerses developing educators in clinical experiences that match with their learning theory coursework. The community and tribal college faculty that develop teacher candidates that transfer to our four-year institutions are key to the success in assuring that every student has an empathetic and well-practiced teacher ready to enter the profession.”

Four other universities in addition to Northern Michigan University are participating in the collaborative: Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Michigan State University, and Western Michigan University. Each university will receive $100,000 to participate and implement improvement efforts. edPrep Partners and 2Revolutions are also involved in the collaboration, alongside the Michigan Educator Workforce Initiative.

The collaborating partners will work together to strengthen the state’s talent pipeline of future teachers by increasing access and affordability. They will have the benefit of individualized coaching, guidance, and project management support as they implement changes to their teacher preparation programs. 

Christi Edge, who serves as an associate dean and director for teacher education at Northern Michigan University, said, “Flexible pathways—those that are more affordable and leverage the assets of community colleges—are not just good for the profession and for all Michiganders, but they're especially helpful for rural communities like the Upper Peninsula. Northern has a proud tradition of serving some of the most remote parts of the state, and we know that schools are continuing to adapt to the needs of students, so we must adapt as well. Without pathway flexibility, we limit the opportunity to become a teacher to those who are able to afford and travel to a traditional four-year university. If we want to increase the diversity of and access to the teaching profession, we need to eliminate as many barriers as possible. We're excited to learn from and with the MEWI team, partners and our fellow universities, and to seek innovative approaches together.”

To measure the success of the initiative, the edPrep Partners Performance Framework will analyze four key areas: program leadership and continuous improvement; candidate preparation and development; teacher educator practices; and district and program partnerships. 

Calvin J. Stocker, the CEO at EdPrep Partners, said, “This framework gives universities and districts a clear, shared roadmap for strengthening how we prepare new teachers. We're not interested in short-term fixes. We're working alongside programs to build the systems, habits, and partnerships that make high-quality preparation the norm—not the exception. When programs consistently produce well-prepared educators, P-12 students and communities feel the impact for years to come.”

For more information about Northern Michigan University, visit the school’s website.