JACKSONVILLE -- September 20, 2002 -- The Department of Education awarded
Jacksonville State University a $412,000 FIPSE (Fund for the Improvement of
Post-Secondary Education) grant that will boost the University's Little
River Canyon Field School Program.
JSU's Pete Conroy, director of the University's Environmental Policy and
Information Center, said "with these funds our program will be
professionalized in a way that will benefit more people with higher-quality
programming."
Conroy said the more significant costs the funding will cover include:
- A curriculum specialist in the Fort Payne area who "will generate
additional interest and put programs on the ground in northeast
Alabama." Conroy said the specialist will be someone with education
experience and a background in natural science.
- A van to shuttle participants to program locations at Little River Canyon.
- Exhibits that will go into the proposed classroom building.
- Web site development.
- Professional evaluations to determine what the community wants, needs
and can best use at the facility.
- Teacher training workshops.
- A "Forest Fest" bluegrass festival, which will generate proceeds for
construction of the classroom facility.
- Scholarships for students who cannot afford admission to Little River
Canyon programs.
For more information about JSU's Little River Canyon Field School, call
256-782-5697.
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