In 2020, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) partnered with Grand Valley State University (GVSU) and Battle Creek Public Schools (BCPS) to assist with the educational transformation in the BCPS district. From the creation of the partnership, the BCPS Health and Teacher Education Pipeline Scholarship (Pipeline Scholarship) was created to cover the cost of tuition and fees, housing, dining, and a book stipend for Battle Creek Central High School graduates who intend to pursue a bachelor’s degree in either Nursing, Health Professions, or Teacher Education. Currently, the Pipeline Scholarship program provides services and support to 27 students. Compared to GVSU’s Fall 2021 overall retention rate of 84.3%, the Pipeline Program has a 96% retention rate. In addition to the Pipeline Scholarship Program, and the collaboration between GVSU, BCPS, W.K. Kellogg, and Goodwill Industries, the number of First-Time-In-Any-College (FTIAC) students from Battle Creek Central HS has increased from 0 in 2018 to 31 in 2022.

The continuation of this collaborative partnership will expand educational opportunities for a new cohort of students from BCPS for Fall 2023. These initiatives hope to continue to support traditionally underserved K-12 urban students’ enrollment, retention, and persistence in higher education.