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Tuscaloosa Academic Enrichment

The mission of Tuscaloosa Academic Enrichment (TAE) is to provide high-quality academic and cultural learning experiences to at-risk incoming high school freshmen in the City of Tuscaloosa.  There is a tremendous need – and a wonderful opportunity – for The University of Alabama and the Tuscaloosa City School System to form a collaborative partnership providing a learning experience that prepares young people for challenging school work and productive citizenship.  Using research-based approaches and models of effective practice, Tuscaloosa Summer Enrichment strives to ensure that academically at risk incoming Tuscaloosa high school freshmen have access to high quality learning opportunities during the summer months.

Academic studies have consistently shown that all young people – in particular those from low income families – experience learning losses when they do not engage in educational activities during the summer (Cooper, Nye, Charleton, Lindsay, & Greathouse, 1996).  Read “Summer Slide” for more details on this problem.

Through a partnership between The University of Alabama, Westlawn Middle School, and Tuscaloosa Central High School, the Tuscaloosa Academic Enrichment program is set to begin the summer of 2007.  Tuscaloosa Academic Enrichment will provide three weeks of high quality academic and cultural programming for incoming high school freshmen through careful planning, extensive staff/intern development, strategic partnerships and continual evaluation.

Program structure

Taking place June 11-29, 2007, Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., a select group of 20 incoming high school freshmen (attending Central High School) will receive literacy and language instruction along with afternoon enrichment activities.  Meals and transportation are provided by the Tuscaloosa City Schools.  Academic instruction is provided by UA college and graduate students through a summer service learning course taught by Professor Lisa Scherff.

Afternoon enrichment activities consist of hands on recreational exercises that involve participants in everyday uses of science, physics, engineering, and math, while also emphasizing the importance of history and civic engagement.  Some afternoon activities include: a tour of the Mercedes Plant, a tour of the Birmingham Civil Rights Museum, a college interest day, and art lessons provided by art students at the University of Alabama.  Two college mentors will serve as leaders to the program under the direct supervision of The Center for Ethics & Social Responsibility.

Tuscaloosa Academic Enrichment is a collaborative effort between the Tuscaloosa City School System, the University of Alabama, the Mayor of Tuscaloosa, the Arts Council of Tuscaloosa and other area businesses and community partners.

How UA Students Are Involved

Tuscaloosa Academic Enrichment will receive year round direction from a dedicated staff member based in the Center for Ethics & Social Responsibility, who will share responsibility for planning and overseeing program implementation with the UA School of Education.  Seasonal staff, including certified teachers and youth development professionals, will be brought on immediately before the start of the summer program.  Both undergraduate and graduate student volunteers receive intensive training during as summer course at the UA and participate along side certified teachers in staffing the summer program.

Undergraduates and graduate students of all majors can participate as classroom aides.  TAE aides will work alongside certified teachers teaching daily lessons and enrichment activities to rising high school freshman.  Training for TAE aides will be during the three-week May interim.  Participants will receive academic credit hours for their commitment to the TAE program.  Complimentary on-campus housing will also be available to aides. 

Interested?

We are seeking undergraduates and graduate students of all majors to participate as classroom aides.  TAE aides will work alongside certified teachers teaching daily lessons and enrichment activities to rising high school freshman.  If you are interested in staffing this program, please contact Lindsey Thomas at cesr@ua.edu or by phone at (205) 348-6490.