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Graduate Council approves College of Education plan for new program

The College of Education came one step closer to developing a Center for Rural Schools and Communities Thursday when the Graduate Council approved the proposal.

The college now awaits approval from the provost, chancellor and the Office of the President before the idea can become a reality.

The college envisions the center as a means of furthering funding, research and outreach in rural communities. It would also allow the college to focus more extensively on opportunities for external funding and increase recruitment opportunities for faculty and students.

"A very big part of our mission is to perform services off and beyond campus," said R. Keith Hillkirk, dean of the College of Education. "The center will provide support and serve as a catalyst for providing stronger ties through the college."

Hillkirk said he is confident the center, which has been in the planning for two years, will receive the go-ahead needed for final approval. He said he is not aware of any similar programs in the state, but knows universities such as Pennsylvania State University have programs that provide such services.

He said there was no way of knowing when the final approvals would be made, but the college would begin "right away" to make the necessary hires and other preparations. If approved, the center would have a proposed budget of $197,000 for the first four years.

The budget would cover the costs of a director, grant writer, graduate assistants and other support staff. Hillkirk said the college plans to fill the positions internally and said such hires would be a way of bringing faculty and staff together.

Faculty member Lyle White agrees.

"I see this as a way for students and faculty to interact with the community, both the really close community and a few counties around Carbondale, for services and research endeavors," said White, who is both a professor and the chair of the Department of Educational Psychology and Special Education. "It's a way to connect in delivering federal and state grants and potentially develop dissertation ideas."

The college already gives graduate and undergraduate students an opportunity to assist children in Carbondale and surrounding areas. Workforce Education and the Center for Autism function as off-campus laboratories in preparation for teaching. The college also offers outreach programs for 287,000 children through classroom experience and existing programs, such as the Saluki Kids Academy.

The programs cater to schools such as Unity Point in Carbondale and other schools as far as Cairo. It also provides outreach services for surrounding areas such as Christopher, Marion and Murphysboro through various programs.

"There's a tremendous connection between the College of Education and the community in terms of understanding rural education, " said Marla Mallette, an assistant professor of literacy in the College of Education. "It helps to broaden the scope of who we are working with."

Hillkirk emphasized that such a center would also be positive for children in the area. He said programs such as these assist area students, better preparing them for college and therefore increasing recruitment possibilities.

"As faculty, we want the students that come here to be as academically prepared as possible so they can excel at the University," Hillkirk said.

 

 

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