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Expanding Horizons Gets $40K Grant
for Program Support
The Educational Foundation of America
has approved a new $40,000 grant for Expanding Horizons: The Skidmore/Schuylerville
Connection.
Over the next two years, the grant will support initiatives designed
to achieve three broad goals: to strengthen connections between
the Skidmore and Schuylerville communities that will enable both
groups to share information, resources, and experiences in ways
that expand traditional academic content and classroom learning;
to encourage Schuylerville students’ access to a college education;
and to enhance curriculum and faculty development and educational
research opportunities for both the College and the school district.
Now starting its third year, Expanding Horizons involves students,
faculty, and community members from Skidmore and the Schuylerville
Central School District, located about 15 miles east of the campus
in rural Saratoga County. The program covers kindergarten through
the senior year of college, fostering creative professional and
community relationships and expanding the learning horizon for all
participants.
Since its inception, Expanding Horizons has included a combination
of one-time activities as well as ongoing projects designed to achieve
the program’s goals. According to EH founder and director Ruth
Andrea Levinson, associate professor of education at Skidmore, a
new item on this year’s agenda is the development of an assessment
component to solicit comments about individual aspects of the program,
as well as overall program effectiveness. “We’ve received
fantastic feedback about the program and we believe that the involvement
of so many students, parents, and community members is indicative
of a strong level of support,” said Levinson. Formal assessment
instruments will allow for objective program analysis and enable
Expanding Horizons participants to better direct their efforts and
resources.
Sue Layden, who most recently worked on institutional assessment
in the Office of the Dean of the Faculty and earlier directed the
Higher Education Opportunity Program, will be instrumental in helping
to develop an assessment pilot plan for Expanding Horizons.
Levinson reported that Michelle Hubbs, coordinator of volunteer
services in the Office of Campus Life, will work with the staff
of the EH program on student co-curricular and academic involvement.
Explained Levinson, “We hope to encourage the involvement of
Skidmore courses that have an activity-based component, as well
as promote increased involvement of student clubs and sports teams
in the EH program.” By providing both academic and co-curricular
options, the program will emphasize the strengths of participants
and appeal to a broader range of interests.
In addition to its three broad goals, Expanding Horizons has helped
both the College and the school district address several fundamental
needs. Over the past few years, Skidmore reorganized its curriculum
to expand interdisciplinary learning, developed more interactive
collaboration between faculty and students, and increased faculty
development for project-based learning. In connection with these
developments, Skidmore began to concentrate on incorporating service-learning
practices within the curriculum, creating a need for outside resources
to provide new learning opportunities. At the same time, the Schuylerville
Central School District sought to expand its access to educational
resources and to increase faculty and curricular development.
Levinson points with pride to the broad College involvement in the
many Expanding Horizon activities. “Skidmore students across
the disciplines have gained field experience and added depth and
meaning to their academic studies. Faculty on both campuses get
a chance to explore their own content area interests, incorporate
new ideas into their pedagogy, and forge bonds with educators outside
of their immediate communities. It’s a win-win situation for
all who are involved.”
To learn more about the program, visit the Expanding
Horizons website.
Skidmore Intercom
Skidmore College
815 North Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
518.580.5000
intercom@skidmore.edu
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