CSCU Embarks on the Excellence in Teacher Residency Project to Address Teacher Shortages and Retention

(Hartford, CT) – The Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) are embarking on the Excellence in Teacher Residency project that will address the challenges of teacher shortages and retention, as well as supporting instructional quality.

Central, Eastern, Southern, and Western Connecticut State Universities are partnering with the National Association of Higher Education Systems (NASH), the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE), and Connecticut Partner school districts to focus on excellence in teacher residency programs.

“By partnering in the Excellence in Teacher Residency Project, the CSCU system is ensuring that every classroom is led by well-prepared educators,” said CSCU Interim Chancellor O. John Maduko. “This residency project is not just about expanding the teacher pipeline — it’s about elevating its quality, so that our teachers are ready to lead from day one, supported, mentored, and empowered. In doing so, we address a critical teacher shortage and retention issue, while affirming our belief that every student deserves exceptional instruction from teachers who are invested in their success.”

“The Excellence in Teaching Residency Project represents exactly the kind of innovative, collaborative work that public higher education systems like CSCU are uniquely prepared to lead,” said Nancy Zimpher, President of NASH. “Through NASH’s Center for Postsecondary Improvement, we are proud to collaborate with CSCU, ACUE, and Connecticut Partner school districts to meet this moment. Together, we can ensure that our classrooms are led by well-prepared educators and that every student has the opportunity to thrive, both in Connecticut and ultimately scaling these solutions across the nation.”

The project will utilize an integrated approach to design thinking, improvement science, and excellence in teaching practice. This will allow CSCU campuses to leverage existing strengths in teacher preparation, develop new, research-aligned practices, and scale successes across CSCU. The aim is to support a shared understanding of exceptional teaching practices through a new platform for pedagogical inquiry.

“The Excellence in Teacher Residency project is a step forward in addressing the pressing challenges of teacher shortages and retention,” said Dr. Aynsley Diamond, CSCU Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs. “This initiative brings together our excellent education departments to expand and develop educator preparation programs with a specific focus on residency programs. This generous funding reinforces CSCU’s dedication to building a strong, well-prepared educator workforce.”

“For a long time, we have needed the resources to support the professional development of our paraprofessionals and other colleagues in our PK-12 Schools to be certified to teach in so many needed subject areas where they have years of experience. This is a time to respect their experiences, build capacity to support mechanisms for mentorship and bring together the missions of our schools and universities in Connecticut in collaborative and mutually beneficial ways for Connecticut,” said Dr. Stephen Hegedus, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at Western Connecticut State University.

“Every student deserves a powerful learning experience from their very first day in the classroom,” said Andrew Hermalyn, ACUE Chairman and CEO. “For more than a decade, ACUE’s nationally recognized Effective Teaching Framework has equipped higher education faculty with evidence-based practices proven to deepen learning and drive student success. Through this partnership with CSCU and NASH, we can reach students even earlier — preparing future K–12 teachers with the tools and strategies to deliver transformative education from the very start.”

This partnership was made possible through generous private funding. As part of the project, three distinct change strategies — the CSCU Design Thinking in Teacher Residencies strand, the NASH Teacher Residency Improvement Communities strand, and the ACUE Application of Excellence in Teaching Practice strand — will deliver high-quality designs for scaling excellence in teacher residency programs.