UNI Center for Urban Education (UNI-CUE)
The University of Northern Iowa Center for Urban Education (UNI-CUE) fully embraces the concept of continuing and part-time education.
- Continuing Education Classes are offered at the UNI-CUE every Monday through Thursday, providing easy access to university courses for credit. Continuing Education courses continue to be expanded and offered during the fall and spring semesters at a time convenient for most nontraditional students.
- The UNI-CUE Youth Academy is a four-week summer program for students preparing to enter middle school. The Academy is designed to: improve students’ academic skills and introduce them to other UNI-CUE programs and services. Students must be nominated by their 5th grade teachers as having great potential for leadership and academic achievement.
- The UNI-CUE Tutoring Center provides free tutoring services during the academic year to Black Hawk County students in grades 1-12. Currently, more than 70 students receiving free tutoring each semester. Tutors are upper-level undergraduate students from UNI who work one-on-one with students to improve reading, English, composition, social sciences, math, and other skills as requested. The UNI-CUE Tutoring Center is specifically designed to provide skill development over the course of several weeks to a semester. Students must register for weekly tutoring through the course of a semester.
- For a number of years, the UNI-CUE Back-to-School Supplies Program has provided free school supplies to students in grades pre-K through 12. In 2011, more than 1300 bags of school supplies were distributed to students from Black Hawk County. Thanks to word of mouth and news coverage, the UNI-CUE private donors contribute 75% of the funds needed to purchase notebooks, pencils, paper, and other items that students need to get off to a good start each fall.
- OTHER UNI-CUE PROGRAMS: The UNI-CUE supports a number of programs to assist area residents and university students in pursuing and continuing their educational goals and prepare for careers. UNI-CUE houses three federally-funded TRiO programs - the Educational Opportunity Center (EOC), the Educational Talent Search (ETS) Program, and the Classic Upward Bound (CUB) Program, as well as the state-funded Iowa Math & Science Academy (IMSA). The following section includes a brief description of the each program's mission and the link to its program web site.
For additional information on UNI-CUE programs, please click on the links at the left side of this page or call 319-433-1220.
Educational Opportunity Center (EOC)
https://www.uni.edu/eoc
The Educational Opportunity Center is an academic counseling program, which promotes post-secondary education in communities with large populations of low-income, first-generation adults who are often unaware of educational and career opportunities. Professional career and education counselors assist eligible adults with selecting a post-secondary institution or training program suited to their interests. Counselors assist clients with the completion of admissions and financial aid applications, scholarship searches, and defaulted student loans, as well as provide academic development workshops (study skills, test taking, college writing, and basic reading and math skills) and academic advising. All services are free to eligible participants who are age 19 or older and do not have a 4-year degree.
Educational Talent Search Program (ETS)
https://www.uni.edu/ets
The Educational Talent Search Program (ETS) is designed to assist Waterloo/Cedar Falls area students to continue in and graduate from high school and enroll in an educational program beyond high school. It also assists high school and college dropouts to return to an educational program. Assistance is provided through counseling regarding the variety of opportunities for further schooling, information regarding admission and financial aid application processes, advice on career choices and appropriate post-secondary institutions, college tutors, workshops, and tutoring.
Classic Upward Bound Program (CUB)
https://www.uni.edu/cub
The Classic Upward Bound Program (CUB) is a college preparatory program designed to empower program participants with the academic skills and motivation necessary for success in high school and ultimately college. CUB serves students from low-income first-generation families who demonstrate potential for college as measured by standardized tests, high school grades, and written recommendations from a school administrator, counselor, or teacher.
During the academic year, CUB focuses around the after-school Supplemental Instructional/Tutorials program. It also includes academic advising and counseling, career exploration, college tours, study skill development workshops, leadership conferences, leadership conferences, and other activities.
During the summer, CUB students spend six weeks living in UNI dorms, and attend enrichment courses in mathematics (algebra, pre-calculus), English (literature and composition), science (biology, physics), foreign language (Spanish, French), economics, and computer science. In addition, students participate in cultural enrichment activities. Students earn credits, which are transferable to the college or university that the student will attend in the fall.
Iowa Math & Science Academy (IMSA)
https://www.uni.edu/imsa
The Iowa Math & Science Academy is a state-funded program designed to strengthen and support Iowa high school students' interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The program is funded to serve a total of 40 students from Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, and Grundy counties. Program participants must be either low-income or potential first-generation college students. Program services generate the skills and motivation necessary for students to succeed in completing high school and enrolling into and graduating from a postsecondary institution.
During the academic year, participants are required to meet monthly with the Project Director. An Individual Education Plan is developed for all participants based on their scores on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills and/or Iowa Test of Educa-tional Development, and academic progress in their current high school courses. Students choose to complete either an individual research project or 40 hours of volunteer experiences in a STEM-related business or organization.
During the summer residential component of the program, students experience college life while still in high school. Participants live on the UNI campus for six weeks (excluding weekends) while enrolled in summer courses taught by UNI faculty. In addition to course work, students experience daily recreational and enrichment activities. Students are eligible to receive college credit after successful completion of three summers in the IMSA program.