The University of Wyoming Literacy Research Center and Clinic Facebook Page
Vision
The center vision focuses on four areas:
Statewide engagement – The primary purpose of the Literacy Research Center and Clinic is that of service to the state of Wyoming. Currently there are partnerships spread across Wyoming with many more in the developing stage. These partnerships include school districts, statewide family organizations, libraries, child development centers, and individual students, teachers and schools.
Tutoring students – The Center provides free tutoring to children, families, and teachers in the state. This is accomplished both in-house at the clinic and via video distance technology for those who are unable to come to the physical location.
Advancing educators – In order to make a lasting impact on literacy, the Center educates both future teachers as well as educators already in the classroom. The Center has many existing professional development programs, conferences, and educational opportunities for teachers, librarians, and others to strengthen literacy education at all levels.
Discovery – Faculty and graduate students conduct research in the clinic, in collaboration with other literacy researchers nationally, and in collaboration with the many partners located throughout Wyoming.
Governance
Growing the broad support needed to bring the LRCC to its launch has been a multi-year, multi-partner, multi-funder process. One key to the project’s success is the institutional commitment represented in the Center’s inclusion in the UW academic planning process. Becoming a university priority raised the LRCC’s visibility, especially with potential donors. Private funding, matched by state funds provided by the Wyoming Legislature, ultimately made the launch possible.
Two advisory groups have been formed. An Outreach Advisory Board, spearheaded by the First Lady Carol Mead, a leading spokesperson for literacy initiatives. This board has played a major role to secure the financing for the building. Also, a Research Advisory Board of UW education faculty, to promote research in Literacy.
The mission of the University of Wyoming Literacy Research Center and Clinic is to serve as the epicenter of literacy expertise and facilitate statewide engagement of stakeholders. Activities and services provided for Wyoming citizens are monitored through research efforts, which focus on basic literacy processes (for example emergent literacy, vocabulary, comprehension); struggling readers and writers; genre-based, discipline-based literacy processes across the K-12 spectrum; education and professional development, family literacy (particularly with rural families, and families who include English learners.
