YPSILANTI, Mich. – Eastern Michigan University is withdrawing from the interlocal agreement between the Board of Regents and the School District For the City of Detroit that led to the creation of the Education Achievement Authority.
The Board of Regents voted unanimously Friday to give notice of the university’s intent to withdraw under terms of the agreement -- and thus terminate its involvement in the EAA.
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"From the beginning, Eastern’s objective in this effort has been focused on helping the students of Detroit and trying to improve educational outcomes,” said Mike Morris, chair of the EMU Board of Regents. “We are taking this action today because it is the right thing to do for our University. It is increasingly clear that the anticipated legislation in Lansing to formally address this matter, and end the EAA, is now moving forward.”
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The Board of Regents first approved the local agreement on June 21, 2011. Under its terms, the university is able to withdraw from the agreement on June 30 of any given year, but must give at least 180 days notice to do so. Thus, June 30, 2017 will mark the university’s official withdrawal.
“Given the legislative efforts under way, we fully expect the EAA to cease to exist well before that time,” Morris said.
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Morris emphasized that Friday’s vote does note mean the university is ceasing its work with the students of Detroit.
“Eastern Michigan University has a long-standing history of supporting teachers and students in Detroit, across the state and nation,” he said. “As a nationally recognized leader in developing teachers and school administrators, this has been and will continue to be an important mission of the University.”