8/9/02

BOOKLET HIGHLIGHTS AU PROGRAMS FOR K-12 STUDENTS, TEACHERS

AUBURN -- Auburn University Outreach is distributing a new publication, Auburn University and K-12 - Partners in Learning, which highlights programs benefiting Alabama public school students and teachers.

"Auburn University has an impressive array of programs that serve K-12," says David Wilson, associate provost and vice president for University Outreach. "The university is always seeking opportunities to use our expertise and resources to strengthen public education in Alabama."

Wilson added that improving public education also is a critical tool in upgrading Alabama's economy.

"We understand that having a top quality public education system is one of the primary precursors to economic development in our state," he said.

The publication is being distributed to all of Alabama's public K-12 schools, principals and superintendents, state legislators, AU faculty and staff and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

This distribution aims to stress AU's commitment to Alabama's K-12 school systems and stress some of the most successful ongoing projects, programs, initiatives and partnerships throughout Alabama. It will also serve as a directory for school systems and individuals who are interested in gathering additional information or possibly participating in these programs.

Royrickers Cook, special assistant to the vice president for University Outreach, co-authored the publication with Ralph Foster, director of the Office of Outreach Information and Marketing.

"Here at Auburn University we are committed to assisting K-12 schools with developing Alabama's school children both educationally and socially," said Cook. "This commitment will continue to be reinforced through the numerous AU and K-12 partnerships that are ongoing and will be developed in the near future."

Some of the highlighted programs for schools and teachers include: the AU Surplus Property Program; the West Alabama Learning Coalition; the Department of Curriculum and Teaching's East Alabama Regional Inservice Center; the College of Sciences and Mathematics' Alabama Operation Chemistry and Physics workshops, and the Summer Institute for Physical Science Teachers; Teacher Conservation Workshops, taught by AU Forestry faculty; School-To-Career Project, administered by the Alabama Technology Network at AU; and Transition In Alabama, a conference for teachers and other educators which focuses on preparing high school students with disabilities for a successful transition from school to work and community life.

In addition to the Outreach Program Office's Summer Experience, which includes athletics, band and cheer leading camps for students, other programs for students include: Helping High Schools Through The Humanities, a Liberal Arts outreach project; COSAM's Science-In-Motion traveling science labs; ACES's Alabama 4-H and Workforce Preparation Programs; AU's Department of Health and Human Performance's Physical Education Program, targeting first and second graders' movement skill development; and mentoring programs such as Project NIA, which pairs AU faculty with sixth and seventh graders, and Buddy Up, which exposes students to architectural skills and preservation interests.

For additional information about the publication or AU Outreach programs, contact the office of the vice president for University Outreach at 334-844-5700, or click here.

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aug02:AU-k12