Trustees Outreach and Engagement

Contact: Lesley Deaderick

                                                                                                                            (614) 292-0569

New OSU strategies focus on outreach, engagement

University’s P-12 Project highlights community partnerships

COLUMBUS -- University and community partnerships, an enhanced Web presence, restructured leadership responsibilities, and the development of focus area strategies are helping Ohio State bolster its outreach and engagement efforts to have a statewide impact. That message was delivered to the university’s Board of Trustees Wednesday (8/29) by Bobby Moser, vice president for university outreach and dean of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

Moser said outreach and engagement is a central mission of the university, that it is not a new function but rather an integral part of teaching, research and service. Last year, a strategic plan for P-12 education was identified. Moser said the agenda now includes involvement in two other principal areas: science technology and economic development, and health and safety.

“Key to all of this are university and community partnerships that capitalize on our individual skills, and that we plan, implement, evaluate and fund together,” Moser said. “We need to concentrate on partnerships in which we maximize our ability to enhance our communities.”

Moser said a perfect example of those types of partnerships is the University’s P-12 Project — launched in fall 2000 to improve Ohio schools, primarily those that serve the University District.

P-12 Project Director Daryl Siedentop said the project is a university-wide partnership with the College of Education in the lead college role, involving the state, Columbus and selected local school districts.

“The P-12 Project significantly strengthens the scope and effectiveness of our commitment to P-12 public education, with a special focus on the education of underserved children and youth,” Siedentop said.

Project goals include the following:

• develop, implement and nurture a coherent strategic P-12 outreach plan;
• provide an organizing structure to relate Ohio State P-12 activities into a consistent campus-wide outreach program;
• provide a single, initial point of contact for those interested in P-12 activities;
• initiate and support projects closely aligned with school improvement and increased student performance;
• engage the entire University in the improvement of the initial preparation and continuing professional development of educators; and
• assist state politicians and the Ohio Department of Education in developing policy and programs to improve the performance of Ohio’s schools.

Part of the mission is to create a searchable database on the Web that provides a single, initial point of contact for those interested in P-12 activities.

Already under way is a P-12 Learning Bridge project that partners Ohio State, Columbus Public Schools and the Columbus Education Association. Siedentop said improving the neighborhood public schools is central to the Campus Partners’ agenda, and provides the university with a clear, local focus for its P-12 activities.

“The P-12 Project has created the Learning Bridge project to work with the Columbus Public Schools and neighborhood agencies to assist in providing comprehensive academic and social services to neighborhood students and their families,” Siedentop said.

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