Description/Overview: The traditional approach to teaching has been transformed to an active learning, learner engagement approach. This transformation in education is in alignment with several calls to action.1-3 The University of Michigan School of Nursing and the University of Michigan Health System implemented a new partnership, called the Clinical Excellence Initiative (CEI), in response to the necessary reformation.4 The academic-service partnership leveraged resources, and sought to increase educational capacity and nursing science through their partnership, advancing education, practice, and scholarship. Within the CEI, students were embedded within a cluster of clinical units, where they received instruction through a team mentorship approach (e.g. faculty, staff nurse/mentor, and student). Clinical faculty on the units provided mentoring and guidance to the student, as the staff nurses provided more direct care teaching. Initial work within the academic partnership was focused on advancing nursing education through a dynamic, innovative approach to education.4 The next phase of the work (Exemplar Unit Initiative), described in this symposium, was aimed at fully actualizing the CEI, by deeply embedding clinical faculty on their respective unit and creating partnerships with unit leadership through a microsystem-level approach. Specific objectives of the Exemplar Unit Initiative (EUI) included: (1) provide structure for improved communication and integration between clinical leadership and faculty; (2) create an environment for a robust, mutually beneficial partnership aimed at improving patient care quality; and (3) ensure alignment with unit-specific goals and effective resource use. These objectives provided the foundation needed for students, staff nurses, and nursing leadership to attain their goal of improving patient outcomes. Goals were attained through the implementation of specific structure and process components within the EUI. The symposium will provide an overview of the EUI (abstract#1), followed by two presentations (abstracts#2&3) describing actualization of the model and the impact of the EUI on patient care.