EdVantageUNI
Center Spotlight: Expanding educational support across Iowa
As a leader in preparing future teachers, school administrators and related education professionals, the array of programs and resources offered by the University of Northern Iowa is vast.
Finding your way to the services and programs you seek, however, isn’t always easy. EdVantageUNI, a new UNI center, intends to improve that experience. More importantly, this entity — approved by the Board of Regents this past summer — provides a framework which supports new services and partnerships to meet the goals of schools, educators and families across Iowa.
A New Venture
An extension of the College of Education, EdVantageUNI creates a single front door to all education-focused services available across campus while positioning UNI to expand outreach and support for Iowa schools and communities.
Customized professional learning is a cornerstone of the initiative, allowing school districts to partner with UNI on tailored coursework and training designed to meet local workforce and instructional needs.
“This gives us a structure and a focus to provide one-stop service and access,” says Colleen Mulholland, dean, College of Education. “We’re excited about the new fee-for-service offerings we can provide in addition to connecting everyone with existing programs.”
EdVantageUNI services include:
- PK-12 tutoring, staffed by UNI students.
- Customized professional learning, with outreach to school administrations set to begin upon hiring of staff.
- Convenient access to career advancement resources for working educators, particularly endorsement and graduate certificate programs as well as master’s and doctoral programs.
- A one-stop connection to youth camps, professional workshops and other educational outreach supporting families and working educators.
EdVantageUNI will also play a role in sponsoring new Iowa public charter schools under legislation passed earlier this year. UNI will share charter authorization responsibilities with the state, a role university leaders say aligns with the center’s mission of educational innovation and support. The center will operate as a revenue-generating nonprofit model similar to outreach enterprises already established at UNI.
Center Updates
National Program for Playground Safety Closes
The National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS), a respected source for best practices and certifications in playground safety at University of Northern Iowa, closed in June.
For more than 30 years, the center helped playground professionals, educators and community members in cities, school districts and organizations worldwide keep playgrounds safe and well-maintained. Clients have ranged from individuals seeking certification in safe playground practice to the Department of Defense. Citing increasing volatility in contracting and a growing overlap of services provided by other organizations, the College of Education requested Iowa Board of Regent approval for the closure.
“Countless lives were positively impacted by the NPPS,” said Dean Colleen Mulholland. “We extend our sincere appreciation to all current and former faculty and staff, including former directors Heather Olsen and Hannah Doyle, who helped make a lasting difference in the safety, health and happiness of children everywhere.”
Jacobson Center Prepares for Transition as Director Retires
With the June retirement of Lori Norton-Meier, director of the Richard O. Jacobson Center for Comprehensive Literacy (JCCL), preparations for a national search for a new director are under way.
Norton-Meier joined JCCL in 2020. Among initiatives implemented during her tenure were the addition of the UNI Literacy Initiative, a professional learning experience for in-service educators; a Young Readers and Writers Project; and grant-funded research projects such as a collaboration between Iowa, Kentucky and Washington state to grow K-3 teacher leaders in science and literacy.
During this transition, JCCL will continue its support of the UNI Literacy Clinic, through which pre-service teachers provide 1:1 tutoring for elementary students after school.