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

Currently working with students and educators to create a scaleable pilot project to assist Native American students with preparation for and admission to higher education institutions.
Serve as the Peninsula hub for the UW Sciences/Tribes Educational Partnership (STEP) program.
Collaborated with the UW Carlson Center to develop service learning programs for UW undergraduates in the community.
Began collaboration between area education providers (Peninsula College, Quillayute Valley School District, Washington State University, and UW) to reduce course duplication and tailor courses specifically to community needs.
Held college/career day informational sessions which reached over 68 high school students and over 50 adults.
Participated in the Forks High School Job Shadow Program with a student from the Quileute Reservation.

Academic & Professional Development for K-12 Audiences

Assisted the ONRC in serving 126% more K-12 students than in 1999 through ecosystem exploration activities aligned with the Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALR’s).
Expanded professional development opportunities for teachers to include spring/summer programs in chemistry, geology, social studies, and marine science.
Received funding for three additional teacher professional development institutes for 2001.
Began discussions with the Washington State LASER (Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform) program to help rural districts initiate and implement education programs that align with the state’s Essential Academic Learning Requirements.
Created and institutionalized grade-level specific programs for groups visiting the UW ONRC. These programs focus heavily on diversifying science educational programs to not only include Essential Academic Learning Requirements in science, but those in math, reading, art, communication, writing, and social studies as well.

Community Development

Represented the UW in the Forks Integrated Community Network planning process. In anticipation of far-reaching increases in bandwidth to the northwestern Peninsula, this process is exploring advanced information-technology applications to support economic development and access to education across the region.
Hosted the first in a series of ‘Community Partnerships in Technology and Entrepreneurship’ workshops entitled ‘How to Find Niche Businesses in Remote Areas’ which was attended by over 80 Forks community members. Workshop-presenter Carol Atwood volunteered her consulting services in business development/expansion to five local businesses.
Assisted with a business development workshop held by Washington State University, which was attended by over 30 community members.
Assisted with a proposal to the Hewlett Packard Digital Village program for community technology funding.

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

Work with community leaders and educators to increase technology literacy and applications among Olympic Peninsula students, businesses, and tribes.
In collaboration with UW OEP and K-12 Institute for Science, Math, and Technology explore expansion of targeted K-12 outreach efforts in science, technology, and the arts.
Pursue external funding to support UW-Olympic Peninsula Community Partnership initiatives focused on technology-supported education and economic development programs.

Tools for Transformation Funded Proposals