Francis Marion University - School of Education

FMU Center of Excellence
Grant Proposal Narrative

2. Proposal Narrative

j. Identification of Similar and Related Centers

There are three currently operating Centers that we would see as related to the proposed Center. Two of these Centers -- the Center for Excellence for the Education and Equity of African-American Students, housed at Benedict College, and the Center of Excellence in Accelerating Learning, housed at the College of Charleston -- were mentioned in Section A. Letters of support from the Directors of both of these Centers are included in Appendix B.

The third Center is the Center for Excellence for the Advancement of Rural, Under-Performing Schools (CEARUPS), which is housed at the University of South Carolina-Aiken. As stated in the proposal that was submitted to CHE, the primary purpose of this Center is to become a leader and model in the development, implementation, and assessment of a professional development school established in a rural, under-performing school. Funded in 2003, this Center is just beginning to get organized. In later years, we would be willing to collaborate with CEARUPS whenever mutually-beneficial opportunities arise.