Eastern Michigan University faculty members held multiple protests today urging the school to end its involvement with Michigan's Education Achievement Authority.
The EAA is a state school system tasked with improving consistently under-performing schools.
Critics say the EAA removes too much control from local government.
Steve Camron is a professor at EMU and one of the protest's organizers. He says involvement with the EAA will negatively impact enrollment in EMU's teacher education program.
Several area school districts are boycotting EMU student teachers because of the university's ties to the EAA.
EAA spokesperson Terry Abbott ays the unions feel threatened by the EAA, which he says is having real success with students.
Abbott says since the EAA doesn't deal with unions, it can fire teachers who can't get the job done and hire others who can.
EMU spokesperson Geoff Larcom says the university appreciates the faculty members' concerns but will not end its contract with the EAA at this time.