The New England Association of Schools and Colleges has selected 49 partnerships between institutions of higher education and schools to serve as models for collaboration in the region.
The association’s office of school/college relations, which was opened in March to promote closer cooperation among institutions, selected the partnerships.
The association is the first regional accrediting agency to establish a full-time, staffed office to foster partnerships between schools and colleges.
Participants in each of the new demonstration projects have agreed to share information on their projects with other members of the association who are interested in establishing partnerships.
The primary focus of the partnerships is the improvement of teaching and learning, although the 49 sites are engaged in a wide range of activities. They also encompass a variety of institutions, ranging from private four-year institutions to technical and community colleges, and involve public, parochial, and technical schools at all grade levels.
For example, Trinity College of Vermont is working with Moretown (Vt.) Elementary School to devise an integrated science, technology, and writing curriculum for elementary students.
Other partnerships are working to develop enrichment seminars for teachers in urban high schools, to establish programs to help students gain early admission to community colleges, and to create model magnet schools.
The association plans to publish a booklet containing the demonstration partnerships, a description of their activities, and listing for a person to contact for more information about the project.--AB
