The P-20 Story

What does “P-20” mean?  What does “Engagement” mean?  We hear those questions frequently and answer them like this:

• P-20 refers to education and training at all levels from pre-school through graduate studies in schools, community colleges, workplaces, and other community settings.
• Engagement means mutually beneficial relationships between the university and partners in communities across the region. Engaged partners learn from each other, discover new knowledge, and enjoy benefits that include meeting community needs, increased economic vitality, and improved quality of life across the region.

The Center for P-20 Engagement acts as a connector of resources, expertise, research and services providing better education and training opportunities to the citizens of this region.  We help empower communities by delivering solutions to the educational needs of our region.  We also support NIU faculty and staff working on P-20 projects and developing partnerships.

Lemuel Watson, Dean of the College of Education and Executive Director of the Center for P-20 Engagement provides leadership for this portal to NIU’s P-20 knowledge, expertise and resources for educational organizations, business and industry and community agencies. 

The Center, under Watson’s direction, will pursue three objectives:

• Coordination
  Facilitate a P-20 Network of volunteer affiliates and support their collaborative activities
• Promotion of Leadership
  Strengthen NIU’s regional, national and global presence and impact as a leader among higher education institutions that invest in mutually beneficial P-20 partnerships
• Management of NIU’s P-20 Portfolio
  Extend NIU’s teaching and learning environment through P-20 initiatives with education organizations, governments, non-profits, business, and industry

NIU faculty and staff, and community members who affiliate with the P-20 Network will find centralized support that may include the following:

• Participation in a clearinghouse for connections to internal and external activities and partners
• Opportunities to share what they are doing with colleagues
• Access to public relations, identity development, and website support
• Facilitation for meetings and strategic planning
• Project management

The Center for P-20 Engagement offers coordination and assistance on request as well as management for P-20 strategic planning projects.  As a university-wide organization, the Center works with faculty and staff in five colleges (Education, Engineering, Health and Human Sciences, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Visual and Performing Arts), the Vice-Provost’s Office, and NIU Outreach and with external partners. 

“The goal of the Center for P-20 Engagement is to be a place where we can connect people, facilitate dialogue and enhance everyone’s work.”
--Dr. Lemuel Watson
Executive Director

 
NIU's Center for P-20 Engagement
Inaugural Event Presentation (10MB)