San Diego Unified School District Presents Exemplary Partner Award to National University

Business Wire, Oct 15, 2002

Business Editors

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 15, 2002

Ongoing cooperation between National University and Marston Middle School has earned the two institutions an Exemplary Partnership Award from the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD).

The relationship was initiated two years ago when National University donated $30,000 in computer equipment to the Marston campus. Since then, faculty and student teachers from the University's School of Education have teamed together to offer Saturday computer classes to 6th, 7th and 8th graders at the Clairemont-based middle school.

"To further develop the partnership, we will apply for external funding and encourage faculty research on student computer usage and learning," said Thomas Reynolds, interim chair of the School of Education's Department of Teacher Education. He would also like to expand partnership activities to include other SDUSD middle schools.

Professor Reynolds received the award with Marston Assistant Principal Bryan Remillard at SDUSD's 21st Annual Kick-Off event on October 10. Remillard serves on the department of teacher education's advisory council at National University.

San Diego City Schools Partnerships in Education Program has received the California School Boards Association's Golden Bell Award for Outstanding Multi-level/District-wide -- Parental/Community Involvement Program as well as two national awards -- The Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge Award for Program Excellence and the National Community Education Association (NCEA) Award for Outstanding Organization.

"Our Partners in Education are essential participants in our efforts to achieve our mission," said Alan D. Bersin, Superintendent of Public Education for San Diego City Schools. "The thousands of skilled and devoted volunteers who work with individual schools throughout our district are among our most valuable assets."

For more information regarding National University and its partnership with Marston Middle School, contact Hoyt Smith at 858/642-8111.

National University is the second largest private university in California, with more than 17,250 full time equivalent students enrolled across the state. It is an independent nonprofit institution, accredited by the Western Association of schools and Colleges (WASC), the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE), and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The University was founded in San Diego in 1971 to make lifelong learning opportunities accessible, challenging and relevant to a diverse population of adult learners. NU consists of 26 regional centers in 11 major metropolitan areas throughout California. It offers 47 graduate and undergraduate degree programs, including 14 online programs and more than 200 online courses, as well as 15 teacher credential and certificate programs, a majority of which are available through a unique one-course-per-month format. Black Issues in Higher Education and The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education have consistently recognized NU for its commitment to diversity. Black Issues in Higher Education's 2002 survey of the "Top 100" colleges and universities ranks NU 8th among more than 3,000 post-secondary education institutions in awarding master's degrees to all minorities in all disciplines. The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education's 2002 "Top 100 colleges for Hispanics" list has ranked NU first among California Universities for the third consecutive year in granting master's degrees to Hispanics, and among the top five nationally for the past two years. NU is a member of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) and recommends more individuals for teaching credentials than any other university in the state. The University is a recognized leader in online and distance learning, utilizing the Internet and videoconferencing to expand access to higher education domestically and throughout the world. For more information, please contact Hoyt J. Smith at 858/642-8111, or visit National University's Web site at www.nu.edu.