Cummunity- University Project for Literacy English
Course Description Courses EN284: Language, Literacy and Community (Fall) EN285: ESL Tutor Training Seminar (Spring) The Community University Project for Literacy (CUPL) combines academic study and civic engagement focusing on the recruitment and training of a diverse pool of undergraduate students to work as tutors in community-learning centers in Greater Boston. S Students enrolled in CUPL tutor forty hours each semester while attending a weekly seminar that provides theoretical and practical foundations of tutoring and a forum for tutors to share experiences and problem-solve together.
Project Team Cheryl Nixon, English Department Chair – Support all community outreach planning and programming; work to integrate existing English department reading program (“Guys Read/Girls Read”) into the Walter Denny Youth Center activities; assist with all course re-design and scheduling, assuring coherence with English department curriculum; publicize outcomes of project within department and college to gain support for future initiatives. Carol Chandler-Rourke, Senior Lecturer, English: Re-design course content and activities; review and re-design current program assessment; attend CESI workshops and other professional development workshops; mentor work-study students; coordinate community outreach and team planning; document all project activities and results. Queenette Santos, Site Director, Walter Denney Youth Center: Participate in planning service activities for CUPL tutors at Walter Denny Youth Center; help with review and re-design of current program assessment and evaluation of community impact. Jean Marc Jean Baptiste, Executive Director, Haitian-American Public Health Initiative (HAPHI): Participate in review and re-design of current program assessment; help to expand services to include civic participation and evaluation of community impact.
Project Goals Redesign current course content to reflect an emerging need to add a youth service component to CUPL Strengthen partnership and community planning for youth development and civic participation in community service projects Redesign program evaluation processes to better assess project impact Explore the possibility of expanding current course offerings of EN284 and EN285 to include winter and/or summer sessions.
Project Outcomes Better integration of youth development content in current courses to better meet the needs of community youth and undergraduates working with them. Enhanced community services through additional planning with the Walter Denney Youth Center and the Haitian American Public Health Initiative Support undergraduate CUPL tutors and integrate “Guys Read/Girls Read” model using graduate student mentors; development of civic participation activities at the Haitian American Public Health Initiative (HAPHI). More effective program assessment through review and re-design of current evaluation processes (including assessment of student and community impact). Increase annual participation and community support during winter and/or summer sessions based on student and community needs; this may include on- line/blended course models.
Workshops Course development and sharing promising practices Assistance with developing standardized and streamlined procedures for operational project components such as CORI checks, liability issues Being part of a larger network of faculty and community partners involved in civic engagement scholarship; and finally, gaining the support of a work-study student
Other Looking at other development/structural support such as: Work-study students, 4 credit courses, internship models, community-service club, collaboration on outreach to new students, interdisciplinary projects/courses, events which bring students together to share their experiences