CSCU launches Excellence in Teacher Residency Project

The Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) recently announced a new initiative — the Excellence in Teacher Residency Project — to address the challenges of teacher shortages and retention and to support 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. 

Educators from across the system met at Central Connecticut State University on Jan. 28 and 29 to discuss their role in the project.

“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.” 

NASH President Nancy Zimpher said, “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. 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 use an integrated approach to design thinking, improvement of science, and excellence in teaching practice. CSCU’s participation will enable the system 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.

“Every student deserves a powerful learning experience from their very first day in the classroom,” said Andrew Hermalyn, ACUE chairman and CEO. “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.