Trustees of Hamline University of Minnesota
Background and Purpose
Founded in 1854, Hamline University (Hamline) is a high-quality, nationally ranked liberal arts university with more than 3,000 students in its College of Liberal Arts, School of Law, Graduate School of Education, Graduate School of Public Administration and Management and Graduate Liberal Studies Program.
Its mission is to create a diverse and collaborative community of learners dedicated to the development of students' knowledge, values and skills for successful lives of leadership, scholarship and service.
The Center for Excellence in Urban Teaching (Center) has been in existence since 1998. It is a research-based educational service that offers mentoring, courses, seminars, workshops and on-site professional development for teachers, school staff and school district personnel. The Center embraces multiple teaching strategies that prepare teachers to work with students from various cultural backgrounds and in complex social situations.
The Center is approved by the Minnesota Department of Education to provide external services for schools not meeting adequate yearly progress under the No Child Left Behind law. The Center has successfully assisted schools in raising students' test scores in reading, math and writing, which has resulted in schools meeting adequate yearly progress and closing the achievement gap. The Center additionally offers anti-racism study circles for veteran teachers and novice teachers who are preparing to teach in urban settings.
Current Request
Hamline is requesting funds to help the Center develop a three year strategic plan. The Center's objective is to become the state of Minnesota's leading organization in providing support to teachers in training and current teachers in the areas of closing the achievement gap; culturally relevant pedagogical practices; connecting community to the classroom; and understanding the nature of anti-racist teaching.
After interviewing four consulting groups the Center has selected a primary consultant. The strategic planning will consist of internal and external data collection; interviews with key informants; evaluation and assessment of current programs; review of internal controls; planning sessions with board and key staff; preparation of the strategic plan; and presentation of the plan to the board.