Cadillac, MI —Baker College and the Wexford-Missaukee Intermediate School District (WMISD), through the Wexford-Missaukee Career Technical Center, are expanding their partnership to create additional college and career pathways for students while strengthening connections between education and the regional workforce.
The new Enhanced Partnership Agreement builds on the organizations’ existing relationship and focuses on Early Middle College opportunities, college readiness, student support, workforce development, and shared educational resources.
“This agreement represents an important next step in our partnership,” said Dr. Randy Hill, Campus Director of Baker College of Cadillac. “By working more intentionally together, we can create clearer pathways from high school to college and careers while giving students more opportunities to learn, grow, and build their futures here in northern Michigan.”
As part of the agreement, Baker College and WMISD will explore additional Early Middle College pathways in areas including culinary arts, baking and pastry arts, food and beverage management, early childhood education, and elementary education. Any new pathways will remain subject to applicable approvals.
The partnership also expands access to Early Middle College by lowering the minimum GPA requirement from 2.8 to 2.5 for non-health science programs, while pairing that expanded access with academic and student support services.
“Our goal is to provide students with strong educational options and meaningful connections between what they are learning today and where they want to go next,” said Gretchen Spedowske, Assistant Superintendent of CTE for Wexford-Missaukee ISD. “This expanded partnership gives us additional opportunities to support students as they move from career and technical education into college and the workforce.”
The agreement also creates opportunities for greater collaboration with regional employers, including career exploration, work-based learning, internships, employer engagement, and other workforce-development initiatives.
“This is about more than expanding programs,” Hill said. “It is about building a stronger local talent pipeline and giving students more reasons to see northern Michigan as a place where they can learn, work, and build a successful future.”
Baker College and WMISD will recognize the expanded partnership with a formal agreement signing and media photo opportunity Monday, October 26, 2026 at 10 a.m. at the Wexford Missaukee Career Technical Center (9901 E. 13th St. Cadillac, MI 49601).
The Wexford-Missaukee Career Technical Center (WMCTC) each year, serves approximately 800 Juniors, Seniors, and adult students from seven public school districts and two parochial schools within the Wexford-Missaukee Intermediate School District along with Bear Lake, Brethren, and Houghton Lake. Students who attend the WMCTC can explore and train for career options in one of fourteen hands-on programs to help them “Prepare for Career Success” after high school, whether it is college, employment, or the military. Learn more at WMISD.org.
Baker College is an independent, private, non-profit institution that grants associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees on six campuses across Michigan and online. Founded in 1911, the institution’s mission is to provide an inclusive, innovative, and transformative educational experience, driven by a student-first philosophy. Learn more at Baker.edu and follow on X, Meta, and Instagram.
