Wayne State announces streamlined Kalamazoo-to-WSU pathway for eligible students

Wayne State University announced a new partnership with The Kalamazoo Promise and Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC) that will create a K2W (Kalamazoo to Wayne) pathway. Eligible KVCC students who receive the Kalamazoo Promise scholarship will have the most direct and assured route from high school to a Wayne State University degree.

K2W creates a defined program for Kalamazoo Public Schools graduates who are eligible for the Kalamazoo Promise scholarship. It grants those attending KVCC assured admission to WSU and a seamless transfer of credits for students who meet the basic academic and program requirements.

Students participating in K2W will receive funding from the Kalamazoo Promise to visit Wayne State, along with a WSU housing scholarship guarantee for any student who comes directly from high school or transfers from KVCC, ensuring secure and affordable on campus housing. In addition, K2W students receive a first semester scholarship for textbooks and guaranteed transportation home during major university breaks.

The agreement was unveiled during WSU's annual Transfer Success and Recognition Summit on Dec. 3, which brought together leaders from Michigan community colleges, along with local and state partners working to advance transfer student success. Leadership from The Kalamazoo Promise and KVCC highlighted collaborative strategies that support a seamless student pathway through a panel discussion and a signing ceremony during the summit.

"Wayne State consistently welcomes the largest community college transfer class in Michigan each fall - evidence of the strength and value of our long-standing collaborations," said WSU Interim President Richard A. Bierschbach. "This partnership will expand access and open broader pathways for countless students moving from high school and KVCC to a four-year degree at Wayne State."

Bierschbach along with Paige Eagan, Provost and Vice President for Instruction and Students of KVCC and Coty Dunten, Senior Director of Scholarship Engagement of the Kalamazoo Promise, signed the agreement, which is designed to eliminate barriers, simplify the college admissions and transfer process, and support students and families long before they reach the point of transfer.

"At Wayne State, we want students to see us as part of their higher education journey from day one. The K2W pathway reinforces that commitment by making it a priority to support students in areas that are often overlooked - like secure, affordable campus housing and reliable transportation to and from home during major holiday breaks," said Dr. Charles Cotton, WSU's vice provost for strategic enrollment. "We're dedicated to ensuring Kalamazoo Promise scholars feel welcomed, supported and guided long before they step onto our campus."

The agreement follows recent moves at WSU to broaden pathways to the university, including the launch of the Warriors on the Rise assured admissions program for high school students in the Detroit Public Schools Community District and robust transfer pathway programs with area community colleges.