This event will explore the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning as it applies to the design of a National Research Center. Research centers, also called "Centers of Excellence" are being created around the country to help universities and colleges advance research in a specific focus area. These centers are multi-purpose, and provide undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty with research opportunities, outreach to the extended community, and integrate real-life practice back into the classroom. As a result, these centers become valuable to universities and colleges for advancing the quality of learning, teaching, service, scholarship, and research.

This event will use a potential future center for urban education research. The community of participants will produce a full design for this center. Items to be included in this design are:

• Naming a Center

• Producing a Vision Statement

• Developing its Mission

• Identifying internal and external stakeholders

• Identifying the top five strategic efforts

• Identifying the top five projects

• Building the Leadership team

• Building a 5-year start-up financial plan

• Identifying potential supporting foundations, government, or businesses

• Recruiting Associated Researchers

• Designing a program assessment system

• Identifying 10 courses that align with the mission (teaching and learning)

• Identify 5 external programs that align with the mission (service)

• Identify 5 academic programs that align with the mission (student research)