In March 2019, Grand Valley State University (GVSU) received a $15.5 million, five-year grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) to partner with Battle Creek Public Schools (BCPS) to assist with the educational transformation in the district. The partnership assists in strengthening BCPS by improving the quality of teaching in the district and providing students with a pathway to high-paying, high-demand jobs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and healthcare fields. Working with administrators, teachers, students, and families, GVSU is providing students with hands-on experiences in STEM, health care, and education to ensure that they are college or career-ready upon graduation. With a robust Early Career Teacher mentoring program and ongoing professional development initiatives, it also transforms the K-12 teacher career pipeline to improve teacher recruitment and retention. Major initiatives included:

Prepared BCPS Students for Careers in Education, Health, and STEM:

• Dual Enrollment Courses - Health and Education
• Freshman Career Exploration Fair
• Career exploration camps
• STEM Innovation Center Curriculum

Supported BCPS Educators:

• High-Leverage Teaching Practices
• New Teacher Mentoring
• Paraprofessional Pathway
• Project-Based Learning
• Student Teacher Pipeline

The Grand Valley State University Battle Creek Regional Outreach Center (BCROC) opened on November 4, 2019. Located at 8 Michigan Avenue West in downtown Battle Creek, Michigan, the center serves as the home for the Director of Community Engagement, Special Projects Coordinator, Career Navigator, and Office Assistant, as well as several part-time student workers. This space is available for anyone in the Battle Creek and southwestern Michigan community to receive advisement and resources to assist with their educational journey.

Through additional funding from WKKF, the GVSU/BCPS Pipeline Scholarship Program launched in 2020 to provide full scholarships for Battle Creek Central High School (BCCHS) graduates pursuing bachelor’s degrees in either Nursing, Health Professions, Teacher Education, or STEM fields. Additionally, the program encouraged recipients to participate in experiential learning and explore career opportunities in the Battle Creek area.

The grant also supported the development of a unique advising model that utilizes college-based career navigators. The career navigators addresses educational access barriers and provides holistic support, planned curricular and extracurricular activities, as well as weekly advising sessions for scholars.

The program accepted its final cohort in 2023, and support has since transitioned to Bearcat Advantage students from BCCHS—ensuring the advising model and commitment to student success in Battle Creek continue to grow.

Learn more about the continuing education initiatives with Battle Creek Public Schools and GVSU's College of Education and Community Innovation HERE.

In 2024, Grand Valley State University was awarded a new, $10.3 million, three-year grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to further expand educational and workforce development initiatives in Battle Creek. Building on the success of earlier efforts with Battle Creek Public Schools and the GVSU/BCPS Pipeline Scholarship, this new investment is funding the transformation of the Kendall Center into the Battle Creek Innovation Hub—an inclusive space designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and community engagement.

The grant supports three major areas of focus: expanding access to GVSU degrees and certificates in high-demand fields, strengthening the local food innovation economy, and developing the workforce to meet the needs of an aging population and emerging industries. These initiatives are being advanced in close collaboration with community partners, including Battle Creek Unlimited, Kellogg Community College, and the City of Battle Creek.

GVSU at the Battle Creek Innovation Hub is expected to open in Fall 2025, and serve as a cornerstone for regional revitalization and continued educational opportunity. This work is part of GVSU’s broader commitment to regional impact through the university’s Omni model, which prioritizes equity, innovation, and access in communities across southwest Michigan.

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