Note
from the Director
Dana
Britt Lundell, Ph.D.
Greetings from General College’s Center for Research on Developmental
Education and Urban Literacy (CRDEUL)! We are excited to launch the
first issue of the CRDEUL Center Points to provide timely updates,
information, and insights about the work of the Center. This newsletter
will be sent out twice a year, in September and January, highlighting
recent accomplishments, upcoming events, and related research and
outreach information that will interest our regional and national
colleagues. To launch this first issue, we have subscribed our affiliates
who have already been receiving e-mails through our group lists onto
a “one-way” CRDEUL listserv.
The Center has been working since 1996 to contribute regionally and nationally
to the field of developmental education and urban literacy, focusing on the work
of developmental educators in the Twin Cities area. We have expanded rapidly,
especially after full implementation began in 2000 when I assumed the director
position and Jeanne Higbee became senior faculty adviser for research. In 2002,
we hired a program associate, Holly Pettman. In fall 2003 we welcomed David Arendale,
associate professor of history in General College, to our team as faculty adviser
for outreach. Together we have been busy working on research projects, publications,
an in-house library and resource center, awards, and professional development
activities such as our monthly forum series and Visiting Scholar program. (Details
may be found in “CRDEUL in Focus.”)
In collaboration with our 2003-04 Advisory Board, the Center staff is engaged
in important strategic planning activities to ensure that our work is strengthened
and aligned with future trends in the field. CRDEUL is also supporting General
College Dean David Taylor in his work to implement a metropolitan-area initiative
for meeting the needs of underserved students through developmental education.
This Metropolitan Higher Education Consortium will bring together developmental
educators from the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and
University System (MnSCU) with secondary school leaders to discuss building bridges
for student access and success in the Twin Cities.
The first meeting occurred on January 6, with a follow-up meeting scheduled for
May 22, 2004. These discussions will culminate in a metro-wide conference in
January 2005 involving regional affiliates of community colleges, universities,
and high schools invested in enhancing access in higher education. We believe
this regional process will serve as a future national model.
We are also interested in continuing to develop meaningful regional and national
collaborations for future grants and research, and we invite our affiliates to
explore ways to connect with our mission and communicate with us about potential
relationships and projects of mutual interest.
We appreciate your interest in the work of CRDEUL and would enjoy hearing your
feedback as we continue to upgrade our communications.
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Dana
Britt Lundell
CRDEUL director
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