Partnerships

Partnership is deeply rooted in National Louis University’s history: from its founding in 1886, which launched the modern American kindergarten movement; to the 1897 birth of the PTA; the 1925 founding of Mary Crane Nursery School; and countless collaboration with hospitals, corporations, schools and not-for-profit organizations since then. NLU’s partnership goals include a commitment to bringing together communities of practice and advocacy around important educational and societal issues.

NLU’s outreach and partnership outcomes:

• Inform current programs
• Partners’ needs are met
• Research and grant work increases
• We become leaders in establishing models and garnering broad support effecting real change

Learn more about NLU's partners ...

Education Program Partnerships

• Illinois Resource Center (IRC): Since 1972 the IRC has provided assistance to educators serving linguistically and culturally diverse students. NLU partners with the IRC to provide quality endorsement and development programs that have helped thousands of educators in Illinois and beyond to develop effective learning environments for English language learners.
• Golden Apple Foundation: This long-standing organization prepares and mentors teachers through their college preparation program and into their career. NLU has not only provided quality programs and advancement opportunities specifically for Golden Apple Scholars, but also we are proud that over 70 NLU graduates have been honored as a Golden Apple Fellow—one of the most prestigious teaching and leadership honors in Illinois.
• Shedd Aquarium: Since 1995 NLU and the Shedd Aquarium have had a long standing partnership assisting in the credentialing of Shedd Aquarium science educator professional development and course work. In 2013 NLU and the Shedd have taken their partnership further. Together NLU and the Shedd Aquarium provide a unique online teacher badging program that combines game-like elements and professional development for teachers. For more information click here.

Community Impact Partnerships

• Academy of Parents in Leadership (APL): The APL program is guided by a distinctive parent-school-community engagement curriculum, which focuses on supporting minority parents actively engaged with schools in their communities. Parents who participate in this program will engage in interactive sessions and a hands-on mini-project with their school and community. The Academy of Parents in Leadership is a 10-week program held once a week for three hours and taught by content area experts. Areas of focus include; literacy strategies, social emotional child development, family-school community engagement and civic leadership. Parents receive a certificate of participation or college credit with successful completion of the program. The APL program is now being offered in partnership with several community-based organizations in Melrose Park, Chicago’s southeast side, and Elgin.
• El Valor: National Louis University and El Valor have partnered over the last five years to bring MBA and community psychology programming to the Pilsen community in Chicago. The mission of El Valor’s Leadership through Education programs is to address the demand for culturally and linguistically skilled personnel in the areas of education, rehabilitation, human services and business. A goal of our partnership is to develop skilled individuals from the Latino community and assist in preparing them to take on leadership roles in corporations, government, community-based organizations and any field finding itself with an increasingly diverse customer or constituent base.

Field Experience Host-Site School Partnerships

• : NLU's National College of Education values providing our teacher candidates with quality 'field' or 'clinical' experiences in classrooms, a critical component to their development. This is made possible through the generous commitment of our host-site school partners, for which NLU provides value-added benefits including tuition waivers and other supports. For more information on becoming a host-site school partner, please email ofe@nl.edu.

For more information about our partnerships or to become an NLU partner, contact Ruth Davis, Executive Director of Outreach and Enrollment at 312-261-4566 or email rdavis@nl.edu.