C&I SPY Newsletter Feature
April 2008 Volume 5 Issue 1

The Institute for Community, University and School Partnerships (ICUSP)

The Institute for Community, University and School Partnerships (ICUSP) was founded in the fall 2007 by Dr. Kevin Foster, Assistant Professor in Cultural Studies in Education. Housed in the College of Education, ICUSP is a unit of the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement. ICUSP is supported by a team of advanced graduate students from the College, and is part of an integrated vision to directly impact academic outcomes for students in the K-12 school system while supporting theoretically rigorous and practically grounded doctoral training. As project directors, the doctoral students initiate or participate in projects that they help develop, implement and evaluate and that positively impact the lives of those with whom they work.  Corresponding to the individual projects, ICUSP maintains an active research agenda as well as partnerships with local organizations to conduct and disseminate research.

ICUSP emerged from the desire to link the resources and needs of K-12 schools, local communities and The University of Texas. Its collaborations take many forms. Currently, Melissa Martinez, a student in Educational Administration, is developing the Intellectual Exchange Program, which will facilitate the sharing of expertise between school-based practitioners and UT faculty.  ICUSP also has a new partnership with the Leadership Enrichment Arts Program (LEAP), an Austin-based community organization that was founded by College of Education Advisory Council member Ada Anderson. LEAP has promoted middle and high school students’ exposure to and growth in the arts for almost 20 years.  Amy Kraehe, a student in Cultural Studies in Education, is working with LEAP to restructure its programs and extend its relationships with other arts and cultural organizations in the area.

In addition to promoting a network of practitioners, scholars and community activists, ICUSP develops and implements programs that facilitate youth development and academic achievement and that enhance college-readiness. LEGACY is the latest of such projects to get underway. In response to stakeholders at Martin Middle School, Tifani Blakes, a student in Cultural Studies in Education, conceived of and now is implementing the LEGACY program for 7th grade girls.  LEGACY is designed to be culturally relevant and contextually responsive in its structure, curriculum and pedagogy. Using a similar framework, COBRA and Young Knights nurture the frequently untapped leadership potential of boys in 7 secondary schools in Austin.  Spencer Platt, a student in Educational Administration, and Emmet Campos, a student in Cultural Studies in Education, direct COBRA and Young Knights, respectively, and have been integral to the success and expansion of these programs. In all cases, the hope of the ICUSP team is to facilitate critical partnerships and conduct reflexive participatory action research that directly benefits Texas students. 

Dr. Foster, UT graduate students and LBJ High School students in a meeting of the LBJ chapter of COBRA. Other COBRA chaptes are located at Reagan & McCallum High Schools.