Maryville College
EN-9: Community Partnerships

the Maryville College Design Lab (MCDL) has a partnership with a local environmental organization, the Little River Watershed Association (LRWA) where the MCDL has completed a number of projects for the organization including a variety of marketing materials for youth education programs that the LRWA hosts about water quality, stream buffers, etc. This is an on-going partnership that has also been integrated into design courses as service-learning for the organization as well.

Maryville College established a formal partnership with the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont in 2014 and the partnership has the following agreements: • facilitate collaborative engagements that might include — but are not limited to — research opportunities, internship placements, special programs, curriculum development and implementation, guest speakers and special events; • engage in open, ongoing communication; • recognize the knowledge, expertise and resource capacities of each partner; • acknowledge contributions by participants; • and enhance visibility and awareness of both partners within the general public. This is an ongoing partnership with an environmental education organization that provides collaborative opportunities for MC students to practice their environmental education skills learned in an environment where they are assisting the organization in educating younger citizens of the community about environmental awareness and environmental science as well;

The New Opportunity School for Women (NOSW) is designed to improve the educational, financial and personal circumstances of low-income, under-educated women between 30 and 55 years of age living in the Appalachian region. The program seek to provide education to, "low-income, under-educated women in East Tennessee who are highly motivated to make a positive change in their lives and who want to find sustainability." The three week residency program provides testing and individual counseling, and participants explore career opportunities and educational interests. Classes are taught by Maryville College faculty and professionals from the community. The program provides basic computer skills, resume writing, interview skills, job search techniques, public speaking, and information and connections to internships with local businesses. The curriculum includes Appalachian literature, creative writing, basic finance and math classes along with classes in leadership development and self-esteem. There are also cultural opportunities provided to connect participants to the local community and local culture and Appalachian history. The program is at no cost to the participants. This is an on-going program that was founded in 1987 in partnership with the Women's Fund of East Tennessee and Presbyterian Women. http://www.maryvillecollege.edu/about/community-education/the-new-opportunity-school-for-women/

http://www.maryvillecollege.edu/about/community-education/gse/ http://www.maryvillecollege.edu/about/community-education/the-new-opportunity-school-for-women/ http://www.thedailytimes.com/news/maryville-college-great-smoky-mountains-institute-at-tremont-sign-partnership/article_84473504-610a-5fac-a64b-1bbfd7672478.html