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Institute for Educational Initiatives
Over the past decade, education has emerged as the most pressing domestic issue in the United States. Never have the challenges confronting America's K–12 schools been more documented and discussed—and never has the need to find solutions to address these challenges seemed more important.
In response, Notre Dame re–entered the field of education in 1996, with the establishment of the Institute for Educational Initiatives (IEI), intending to serve the neediest children from the most under–resourced schools. Today, the IEI's 40 faculty fellows—from disciplines throughout the University—lead a handful of key centers and programs that provide education and teacher training, conduct research on key themes in education, and foster the formation of ethical character in our nation's youth.
The Spirit of Notre Dame campaign seeks $10 million to expand and improve upon these teaching and research programs, as well as to develop new initiatives in response to the changing landscape of American K–12 education.
Campaign Priorities for the Institute for Educational Initiatives
Alliance for Catholic Education
The IEI's best–known initiative is ACE, a teacher–training program founded in 1994 in response to the pressing need to attract and form a new generation of talented Catholic school teachers. ACE supports nearly 200 teachers every year in more than 100 Catholic schools nationwide. The ACE model has been replicated by some 13 colleges and universities, which support an additional 450 teachers annually. In 2002, we took it a step further, establishing the ACE Leadership Program for Catholic school teachers who want to serve as administrators.
The institute seeks endowed funding to enhance the ACE Leadership Initiative, aimed at preparing Catholic school teachers who want to be school administrators, and the ACE Magnificat Initiative, which provides assistance to Catholic schools nationwide that are in danger of closing their doors forever.
How can I help? These and other ACE initiatives can be supported through Endowments for Excellence, which can be funded at the Named ($100,000), Prize ($250,000), Distinguished ($500,000), Presidential ($1 million), and Premier ($5 million) levels.
Center for Research on Educational Opportunities
CREO conducts basic and applied studies of schools and student learning, in an effort to increase understanding of how school policies and practices channel learning opportunities for students. Ultimately, CREO hopes to provide information and guidance for educators and policy makers whose decisions will impact generations of American children.
How can I help? As CREO takes on additional research projects, it is necessary to recruit additional and outstanding nationally known faculty who can make significant contributions to research in this area. Collegiate chairs for CREO may be endowed with gifts of $1.5 million.
Interdisciplinary Minor in Education, Schooling, and Society
The interdisciplinary minor in education, schooling, and society is currently one of the largest and most popular programs in the College of Arts and Letters. It invites students to reflect on, understand, and influence the role of education in society and prepares them to contribute to education in active ways, from teaching to scholarship to community service.
With immense and growing student interest, the ESS interdisciplinary minor requires the leadership of postdoctoral fellows to teach in the program, an associate director to help administer the minor, and endowments to support the ongoing curricular, faculty, and programming needs of the minor.
How can I help? Endowments in support of the minor can be established at the following levels: Named ($100,000), Prize ($250,000), Distinguished ($500,000), Presidential ($1 million), and Premier ($5 million).
Center for Ethical Education
The CEE offers an integrative, innovative, and research–based approach to the formation of ethics and character in our nation's schoolchildren through the development of age–appropriate educational resources for parents, teachers, and coaches in four broad areas: schools, media, sports, and college.
How can I help? The center seeks endowed funding to advance its teaching, research, and service activities. Endowments for Excellence in support of the CEE can be established at the following levels: Named ($100,000), Prize ($250,000), Distinguished ($500,000), Presidential ($1 million), and Premier ($5 million).
Questions? Please contact us at spirit@nd.edu.
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