Bridging Local Government and Academia: DID Partners with Western Michigan University

We are excited to announce a new strategic partnership between the Digital Innovation Collaborative Exchange (DICE) and Western Michigan University (WMU) for the Spring 2026 semester. This collaboration brings a fresh, academic perspective to our mission of shared digital services through WMU’s “PADN 4700 – Program Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation” course.

The Origin of DICE

The Van Buren Digital Information Department (DID) created the DICE program as a forward-thinking initiative to work jointly with St. Joseph County. By pooling resources and expertise, our two counties are proving that rural government can remain at the cutting edge of digital transformation through collaboration rather than isolation.

Expert Oversight

The project is being integrated into the curriculum by Dr. Daniela Schröter, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Programs for School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) at WMU. Under her guidance, a group of students is developing a comprehensive program plan based on the DICE concept. This partnership allows our local initiatives to be analyzed using the same rigorous frameworks applied to state and federal programs.

What This Means for Our Counties

Throughout the semester, these students will work as “pro-bono consultants,” delivering four key components that will directly benefit our strategic planning:

• Evidence-Based Problem Analysis: A deep dive into the specific needs and factors that led to the development of DICE.
• Advanced Program Design: The creation of formal logic models to illustrate how our resources are converted into public value.
• Performance Metrics: A robust monitoring and evaluation plan to ensure DICE remains accountable and efficient.
• A Complete Program Plan: A final, professional deliverable that the counties can use to guide future growth and grant applications.

Why It Matters

DICE was founded on the idea that rural counties achieve more by working together. By embedding our projects into WMU’s SPAA program, we are not only mentoring the next generation of public leaders but also ensuring our digital transformation is grounded in the latest research and best practices.

Our leadership team will be joining the class via Zoom throughout the spring to provide real-world data and feedback, ensuring the students’ work is perfectly aligned with the goals of Van Buren and St. Joseph residents.