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Tools for Transformation Funded Proposals

Outreach to Olympic Peninsula

Educational Partnerships

Strengthening UW Outreach to Olympic Peninsula Schools and Rural Communities

The University's Olympic Natural Resources Center (ONRC), located in Forks, Washington, is expanding its outreach programs to K-12 teachers, students, tribes and educationally underserved communities across the Olympic Peninsula. The ONRC education staff will work with UW faculty, staff and students to develop academic preparation programs for local K-12 students and professional development programs for K-12 teachers, in science, natural resources, technology, and other disciplines. Over time, a heightened UW presence on the peninsula will help to enlarge the pipeline through which Native American and other peninsula students access UW programs and resources. This initiative also provides a model for greater University involvement in other under-served rural communities.

Contact: Louis Fox
Vice Provost
Office of Educational Partnerships
lfox@u.washington.edu
Allocation: $111,800
Date Funded: October 1999


Progress Report, December 1, 2000

INTRODUCTION
The UW-Olympic Peninsula Community Partnership was launched in the winter of 2000 by the Office of Educational Partnerships (OEP), in collaboration with the UW Olympic Natural Resources Center in Forks, Washington. As part of the UW’s network of rural centers (which includes the UW@ Heritage and the new UW/Okanogan community partnership), the University/Olympic Peninsula initiative provides a collaborative framework for addressing community-driven educational and economic development priorities.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Tools for Transformation grant has resulted in a substantial increase in ONRC’s K-12 educational programs, while helping to expand the scope of UW involvement in educational and economic development initiatives on the Olympic Peninsula’s west end.

Tools for Transformation resources are being used to build outreach infrastructure in the following ways:

Digital Learning Center: The Center has a direct connection to UW campus networks, and is equipped with high-speed internet access and 18 computer learning stations (plus one instructor’s station). The technology is used for community professional development programs, technology education through a variety of applications, on-line student advising and mentoring programs, and for accessing campus libraries and other web-based resources.

Outreach Specialist: The full time OEP Outreach Specialist (Elizabeth Moundalexis) works closely with communities on the Western Olympic Peninsula to develop and extend University programs and resources to K-12 audiences, local employers and professionals, tribal members, and the community at large.

WINTER 2000 - FALL 2000: PROJECT MILESTONES

Higher Education Outreach

Academic & Professional Development for K-12 Audiences

Community Development

FUTURE PLANS
Priorities for Year 2 of the UW/Olympic Peninsula Community Partnership include:

Tools for Transformation Funded Proposals