The Ohio State University

Both current and future economic development require a more highly educated work force in Ohio and nationwide. Economic competition must be faced among states and among nations. The University System of Ohio plan promulgated by the Board of Regents outlines the need for additional 230,000 college enrollees and graduates needed to regain a competitive position and strong economy.

Goals of attending programs beyond high school will require that low-income Ohioans have the same knowledge about going to college that moderate to upper incomes students obtain through their extended families: finding someone knowledgeable to help understand the processes, getting good grades in the right courses for workforce and academic preparation, finding the college that will inspire and support each student, and taking the right steps to finance study beyond high school.

While research (Lumina Foundation 2007) provides the empirical evidence of what needs to occur, the processes for the all-important first step – someone to assist in understanding the steps to college – are illusive. Access initiatives have also been focused on urban low-income youth rather than a combination of urban and rural programs.

This grant will enable an Extension professional highly qualified in access programs to join forces with the Economic Access Initiative to form a flexible plan for use in counties throughout Ohio. Delivery mechanisms will be defined and materials to support programming developed.

 

Formalizing Partnerships Between OSU Extension and OSU STEM Research: Pursuing Opportunities in a Time of Transition
Christopher Andersen, Director, Project GRO, Office of Research and Office of University Outreach and Engagement
Vicki Schwartz, Associate State 4-H Leader

Federal agencies such as NSF and NIH increasingly are requiring proposals for research funding to include plans for providing STEM educational outreach. In order for their proposals to be competitive, OSU researchers need outreach partners who can provide meaningful STEM education programming, and OSU Extension can serve as that partner through its expertise in youth development and its statewide presence. A primary barrier to this partnership is the underdeveloped communication between OSU STEM researchers and Extension. This OSU CARES proposal aims to foster communication between 4-H and Project GRO, the Office of Research’s resource for the development of outreach portions of proposals for research funding. This OSU CARES proposal will allow Project GRO to work with 4-H and STEM researchers to lead the preparation of proposals to two NSF programs in which Extension can play central roles, with the goal of establishing a communication infrastructure between OSU Extension and Project GRO that will facilitate the inclusion of Extension as an outreach partner in future funding proposals by STEM researchers.

 

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