Disadvantaged Rural Students: Five Models of School-University Collaboration.

This paper describes five models of school-university collaboration designed to maximize academic achievement opportunities for disadvantaged rural students. Project SHAPE (School and Homes As Partners in Education) at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Plattsburgh is an extended school day program established in partnership with Plattsburgh public schools, parents, community, and university. The Yakima Valley Collaborative Program involves three institutions: Yakima Valley Community College, Heritage College, and Central Washington University. It is designed to meet the needs of older or minority students unable to leave jobs, families, and other responsibilities to travel to the college campus. The Center for Individualized Instruction (CII) at Jacksonville State University (Alabama) is a multi-disciplinary academic support center serving both undergraduate and graduate students. The CII provides computer based instruction, special classes in basic skills, and peer tutoring in core curriculum subjects. The Systemic Teacher Excellence Preparation Project (STEP) at Montana State University is a 5-year project funded by the National Science Foundation to improve the training of K-12 mathematics and science teachers in Montana, in particular Native American teachers. At Saginaw Valley State University (Michigan), applicants from diverse economic, racial, and cultural backgrounds are recruited through a variety of strategies. Initiatives implemented by the College of Education to attract minority candidates include: the Bilingual Education Program; math/science scholarships funded by a grant from the Kellogg Foundation; a cooperative program with Delta College for minority students; and the Young Educators Society for minority middle school students. (Contains 16 reference.) (ND)