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Northern Illinois University

Collaborative on Early Adolescence

Vision


The NIU Collaborative on Early Adolescence (NIU-CEA) will create a nationally-recognized model for collaboration between universities, schools, and communities to promote the optimal development of young adolescents.  Through a portfolio of comprehensive services and sustained engagement with students, educators, parents, community members, and NIU scholars, the NIU-CEA will improve academic, social, emotional, health, cultural, and civic outcomes for students; and will inform NIU’s academic, certification and professional development programs.

 

Mission


The NIU Collaborative on Early Adolescence supports and enhances young adolescent learning and development in the academic, social, emotional, health, cultural, and civic areas of their lives. NIU-CEA convenes and engages university, school, and community partners to understand their shared needs, identify resources, and solve problems.

 

In collaboration with educators, scholars, community members, and adolescents, the Institute implements the following activities:

Organizational Development

  • Develop productive, interdisciplinary relationships with NIU colleagues who are working in the field of early adolescence
  • Develop partnerships with local schools, districts, regional offices, and other educational and community organizations

Partnership Activities

  • Identify and address local needs
  • Conduct research and write grants
  • Design relevant and sustainable programs for implementation in the schools and community
  • Evaluate school-based and community-based programs
  • Inform educational decision making and practice with empirical methods and data

Dissemination

  • Exchange information from research literature and best practices
  • Inform improvements to teacher education programs, including both pre-service preparation and in-service professional development