The University of Toledo is expanding a partnership with Toledo Public Schools that brings higher education to community members through their local schools.

The UT@TPS program will expand this fall to Leverette Elementary School where individuals can take UT liberal arts courses for lower costs at a convenient location.

TPS Assistant Superintendent Romules Durant and Lynne Hamer, UT associate professor of education theory and social foundations of education and director of the UT@TPS program, will announce the expansion at a news conference 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 11 at Leverette, 445 E. Manhattan Blvd.

The UT@TPS program currently allows individuals to take business courses through the University at Samuel M. Jones at Gunckel Park School, 430 Nebraska Ave. The students at Jones work toward an associate’s degree in business management technology with two courses per semester that meet 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

At the new program at Leverette, the liberal arts and general education courses can apply to any major and after four semesters participants can continue to pursue their studies on a UT campus. Those courses meet 3:30-6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Participants in UT@TPS are fully-enrolled UT students with campus privileges. The classes taught by UT faculty members are held at TPS locations, which reduces the costs. For many students Pell grants completely cover their tuition costs.

UT@TPS was established in 2010 to support parents and community members to continue their schooling and thus lead the way for Toledo’s children and youth to stay in school. The program also works with Penta Career Center to offer Adult Basic Literacy classes at TPS schools to prepare individuals for the GED.

UT@TPS is currently enrolling students. Contact Lynne Hamer for more information at 419-283-8288 or lynne.hamer@utoledo.edu.

Media Coverage
The Blade (June 11, 2013)