Patrick and Marcelle Leahy Center for Rural Students

Basics

Mission

Funded by a Congressionally Directed Grant, the Leahy Center aims to understand and beneficially change the factors that influence rural, first-in-family modest-income (FFMI) students’ educational and occupational aspirations, while also developing and fostering a PK-16 Network in the Northeast Kingdom (NEK) of Vermont.  The Leahy Center serves as a model for the state of Vermont, the Northern Forest region, and rural regions across the nation in terms of effectively integrating PK-12 and higher education within rural communities.

Research

We conduct and disseminate research on the factors that influence rural, first-generation modest-income (FGMI) students’ educational and occupational trajectories. Current projects include:

  • First Year Experience Survey (in collaboration with Project Compass)
  • Longitudinal Panel Survey of Lyndon Undergraduate Students (in collaboration with Project Compass)
  • Qualitative Exit Interviews with former Lyndon students (in collaboration with Project Compass)
  • Five-year longitudinal panel study of 5th-12th grade students in the NEK, focused on their hopes, plans, and aspirations after high school
  • Telephone survey with parents in the NEK, focused on their children’s and their own aspirations regarding postsecondary education (slated to begin Spring 2011)

Outreach and Programming

Working with several academic and student service programs at Lyndon, as well as community organizations and our PK-12 partner schools, we are developing the following programs to enhance FFMI students’ postsecondary aspirations and degree attainment:

  • Early Promise Scholarships and Mentoring program (offering partial financial support to qualifying applicants for 4 years; pairing FFMI students at Lyndon with regional high school students)
  • Dual Enrollment program (helping to design a series of courses and curricular experiences so NEK students will receive college credit for courses they take during high school)
  • Experience-based learning (helping to coordinate students’ educational experiences along the PK-16 pipeline so hands-on learning opportunities framed around emerging industry clusters in the NEK are credit-bearing experiences)
  • Parental Involvement/Aspirations (working with area guidance counselors and community organizations to involve parents in our programmatic efforts and research; communicating directly with parents about their goals, plans, and suggestions for reaching NEK youth)

Partner Schools and Organizations (VT)

Blue Mountain Union School and School District, Caledonia Central Supervisory Union, Canaan Schools, Danville School, Essex North Supervisory Union, IWoW at Lyndon State College, Lake Region Union High School, NEK Career Fair, NEK School Development Center at Lyndon State College, North Country Union High School and Supervisory Union, Orleans Central Supervisory Union, Oxbow Union High School, Project Compass at Lyndon State College, St. Johnsbury Academy, Vermont Student Assistance Corporation, Upward Bound at Lyndon State College

 

Contact

Questions? Comments?
Please contact Dr. Heather A. Bouchey, Director of the Leahy Center. (802)626-6444, Heather.Bouchey@lyndonstate.edu