St. Ursula Academy Partners with University of Cincinnati's School of Information Technology

UC’s School of Information Technology, part of the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH), signed a partnership agreement with St. Ursula Academy in Cincinnati on Aug. 4.

In a ceremonial signing at the academy, principal Craig Maliborski and CECH dean Lawrence J. Johnson committed to collaborate on the ways in which students will apply their knowledge and coursework to real-world projects.

“This partnership aligns with CECH’s mission to enhance diversity and will encourage more women to go into Information Technology.” said Johnson. “Our partnership will also help maximize the ways in which students from both institutions can learn from each other and make a positive impact.”

Through this agreement, UC undergraduate students currently enrolled in the School of Information Technology (SoIT) will have the opportunity to work with their professors to teach “Academy Classes” to St. Ursula’s students. Such classes will take place for one week after school each term. The final session will be held on the UC campus.

Because St. Ursula is an all-girls school, administration and faculty from both schools hope the collaboration will expose more women to the field of information technology, traditionally a male-dominated area

SoIT faculty members will also develop and deliver curriculum that offers St. Ursula’s students opportunities to explore “hands-on-topics” and apply what they are learning in the classroom. The program will give students an opportunity to increase their knowledge and awareness in this rapidly changing industry beyond the framework of using their Tablet PC’s for class. In addition, students' time on campus will provide them an initial contact with university personnel as they learn how to best incorporate technology into future curriculum and beyond.
 
“This is an excellent example of higher education and secondary education working together to find ways to encourage students to look into the field of information technology,” said principal Maliborski. “This partnership will help advance the St. Ursula academic strategic plan by developing unique and exciting ways to deliver technology as part of our curriculum.”

This partnership and others exemplify part of the SoIT’s IT2019 strategic plan, noting that strong partnerships with community and industry leaders help strengthen and increase students’ opportunities for well-rounded, real-world work experience.