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Formed in 1996, the organization not only assists future and current educators in furthering their career development, but also focuses on keeping a close connection with many cultural communities as well as public school teachers and officials.

Just this past summer, CEUT organized the Hamline University scholarship program, the Urban Educator Summer Scholars (UESS).

Coupled with a hefty $9,000 scholarship, those who qualified were trained and offered growth planning followed by a placement in an urban school where they worked alongside teachers in classrooms.

Formed in part as a response to the No Child Left Behind Act, CEUT’s current project, called the Urban Scholars Program (USP), is geared toward helping children who are marked as ‘not making adequate progress.’

In 2003, Barbara Washington, a long time Twin Cities resident with a degree from Concordia and a master’s in Educational Policy and Administration, became CEUT’s new executive director. Under her guidance, the center became involved solely with Hamline’s graduate program.

However, by the end of 2004, to the benefit of the entire campus, CEUT once again became a university-wide program.

The program will focus in on an broad age group, servicing students all the way from first to ninth grade.

“Our tutoring this year is being supported through the approval of the state of Minnesota as the supplemental educational service provider,” Washington said.

Scholars in this program work one-on-one with students or in small groups through a culturally responsive curriculum.

This assists a sector of the community that is generally economically disadvantaged and underrepresented.

What makes USP so innovative and effective is that aside from assisting students during normal school hours, tutor scheduling can be made at whatever hour or location is most convenient for both parties, whether on Hamline Campus or at the struggling student’s home.

CUET, however, is facing some difficulties. “One of our challenges right now is to get enough tutors together to serve the number of requests that we’re recieving,” Washington said.

In 1998 and ‘99, the center added several programs related to diversity in the teaching field to its already existing 3-credit graduate course.

While at first glance CEUT appears to be another campus organization that provides opportunities for students interested in education, it reaches beyond the campus to not only the surrounding community, but to the entire Twin Cities.

CEUT, like Harumbe and its Freedom School(s), which helps young minority children receive attention and education they need, is one of the programs available for communities and children in the lull of summer months when there isn’t school. Not only does this provide growth and attention to children in all
types of communities, but it also helps keep them from falling behind in their education.

Following this successful summer collaboration, CUET is planning a new school and community collaboration, called the Urban Scholars Program, to help improve the reading and language skills of students.

Though they have plans to move to a new office just south of the Hamline Park Plaza, they can still be reached at their old office at 1436 Minnehaha Ave.

For more info call Debra Brown, project coordinator, at 651-523-2971 or the CUET office at 651-523-2416.