Academic Success at Gatzert Elementary
The
partners invested in Bailey Gatzert Elementary School’s academic success,
including administrators, teachers, parents, five non-profit organizations and
the University have measurable impact to show for their collective efforts. Last year the school attained the greatest
gains in State test scores of any public school in Seattle. Congratulations to Gatzert School!
Jobs Fair Offer
Employment Opportunities
To
address the problem of joblessness in Yesler Terrace, where unemployment among
adults is 45%, Seattle University is partnering with Harbor View Medical
Center, the Seattle Foundation, Seattle Housing Authority (SHA), Swedish
Medical Center, and the Workforce Development Council to identify employment opportunities
for residents in major First Hill institutions. In December Seattle University and SHA hosted
a job fair for 25 Yesler residents to explore employment at the University. Two residents have already been hired.
New Family Engagement Program Succeeds
Last spring School Psychology
professor Kay Beisse received a SUYI Fund for Engagement grant to bring a
nationally-awarded family engagement program called Strengthening Families to
the local neighborhood. Last fall nine families, including parents and
youth (ages 10-14), participated in a seven-week curriculum that consisted of
rule-setting, clear communication, and how to conduct family meetings.
Dr. Beisse, SUYI staff and a faculty member from Washington State University are
now training parent participants to facilitate future sessions.
Public High School Opens at Seattle University
The Seattle University College of
Education has partnered with Seattle Public Schools to open a new Seattle
Public School Middle College, a high school program for promising local students
who have struggled in traditional high school environments. Fifty students, many from the SUYI
neighborhood, will enroll in the program, which is focused on providing motivated
students with personalized learning and access to college campus
resources. The program also offers partnership
opportunities for graduate students in the College of Education, as well as a
street law class through the School of Law and health programming through the
College of Nursing.
SU Hosts Expert in Campus-Community Collaboration
In
mid-November, Randy Stoecker, Professor of Community and Environmental
Sociology at University of Wisconsin-Madison, presented Meeting the
Challenges, and Realizing the Promise of Higher Education Community Engagement
at SU’s Community-Based Research Symposium. The presentation covered topics
including community-university collaborations such as the Youth Initiative. Eighty-five
community partners, faculty, staff, and students from 14 higher education
institutions attended the event.