Departments | University-School Partnerships (USTEP)
Partnership Programs
Student U.
Student U is an academic summer program and intensive mentoring program for minority and low-income students enrolled in Durham Public Schools. Students are recommended by their teachers and are selected based on an intensive screening process. The program is open to 50 students per cohort. The program began Summer 2007 and will start its 2nd cohort Summer 2008. Teachers for the program are college undergraduates or recent graduates from UNC-Chapel Hill, DUKE, and NCCU from all program areas. Mentor teachers are Durham Public School and area Charter school teachers who provide support and supervision for college undergraduate teachers. The program does have one to two Durham Academy students serving in the role of teacher as well.
The program serves as a recruitment tool for future educators. It also helps to shape great educators through the intensive training and faculty support provided to teachers during the summer.
Geographical Service Area and Population Served
Minority and low-income rising 5th and 6th grade students enrolled in Durham Public Schools located in Durham, North Carolina
Program Goals
- Increase academic performance of students enrolled in 5th – 8th grades
- Increase a more positive attitudes about school
- Improve academic behaviors such as attendance, discipline, class participation, homework completion, and reading or investigation for fun
- Increase a more positive attitudes and beliefs of teachers about children and their potential (especially minority and low-income children)
- Increase perceived skills as a teacher
- Increase perceived skills as a leader
Assessment (based on evaluation after 1st year of program)
- 100% of teachers say they would consider teaching as a possible career path after working as a teacher for Student U.
- 86% of students are now looking forward to middle school
- 84% of students feel confident they can master the skills taught in school for the next academic year
- Compared to 86% before the summer program, 1005 of students are very sure they are going to graduate from high school.
Community Learning Centers of Durham
The Community Learning Centers are afterschool programs that will be located at the public housing communities in Durham, NC.
It is for 60 students who want to participate in fun, hands-on activities and homework help. Caring teachers and youth workers plan and lead creative activities to help each student improve their grades and test scores, learn interesting new skills, enjoy a nutritious snack, have computer and reading time, and join in on fun recreation activities with their friends.
The Community Learning Center can result in increased school attendance, better grades, more positive behaviors and relationships, and the knowledge that they can succeed and graduate from school. The program is a partnership between Durham Public Schools, the Durham Housing Authority, the Durham YMCA, Durham Parks and Recreation, NCCU, and various faith-based organizations.
Geographical Area
The program is open to students residing in McDougald Terrace, Cornwallis, and Oxford Manor public housing communities in Durham, North Carolina.
Program Goals
- Increase academic performance
- Increase school attendance
- Increase more positive behaviors and relationships
- Increase beliefs and knowledge that they can succeed and graduate from high school