The Office of Professional Research and Development (OPRD)

The Office of Professional Research and Development provides quality research, evaluation, and development services to support public schools, higher education, human service, and community organizations. OPRD’s mission is to improve organizational capacity through research based practices, evaluation that focuses on serious study of practice, and development and dissemination of exemplary programs. OPRD’s activities are funded by grants and contracts, often in collaboration with other colleges or agencies, with the work achieved through a team from SU and statewide consultant specialists. OPRD also is the home of the Academic Institute for Educators of Adults (AIEA).

Sample Grants and Contracts

• US Department of Agriculture / Rural Distance Learning Program
  This subcontract, from a grant involving Cornell University and seven North Country rural schools, provides technical assistance for curriculum development to increase capacity of rural schools to provide quality education.
• NYS Education Department / Best Practices Website Project
  To identify benchmark schools based on student achievement in NYS, and to study and disseminate best practices aligned with high-achieving, low wealth schools.
• PANY Campus Compact / Learn and Serve America
  Evaluation of regional and interdisciplinary learn and serve projects administered by eight higher education institutions in two states. The Pennsylvania and New York Campus Compact Consortium, funded through Learn and Serve America, provides oversight.
  
• Colgate University / Discovery Under the Hood
  Evaluation of the effect of a summer program on the science of automobile repair on the knowledge, aspiration, and decision-making of adolescent female students.
• NYSED / VESID-SIG Evaluation
  Evaluation and planning to regional and state level constituents regarding the processes and effects of special education training and implementation in higher education and K-12 institutions throughout NYS.
• Syracuse University / Bellevue Academy Youth Empowerment Program
  Funded by the Office of Minority Health, Department of Health, the project serves minority youth at middle school level. The evaluation includes quasi-experimental and qualitative tracking design toward continuous improvement and program effectiveness.
• School Administrators Association of NYS / Magellan Foundation Evaluation
  Evaluation to inform multiple state organizations of the effects and the processes of a Gates Foundation funded, multi-year initiative focusing on leadership and technology throughout the state. Also provides information involving administrators in 100 rural schools and implementation of initiatives for dropout prevention in the secondary schools of the region.
• Oswego County BOCES Tax Effort and Enrollment Forecasting Studies
  Study of tax effort in the school districts throughout the region and a study of enrollment forecasting for ten years in school districts throughout the region.
  

AIEA: The Academic Institute for Educators of Adults
The AIEA is a multidisciplinary initiative that offers preparation and continuing education for educators of adults with a focus on the components, issues, knowledge, and skills common to this broad and diverse field. The AIEA is comprised of five major components:

• The Global Issues Forum focuses on cross-disciplinary discussion about issues that affect educators of adults internationally.
• An international library and information resource network for educators of adults- The Charters Library for Educators of Adults
• A series of professional development courses, workshops, and services.
• A publications program, The Syracuse University Publications for Continuing Education (SUPCE), with focus on national and international issues.
• A research and dissemination capacity for enhancing the knowledge and practice of educators and adults.

In the discussion stage: An academic certificate and concentration program for Syracuse University graduate students; an adult studies masters level degree program.

OPRD Principal Personnel:

Director – Scott L. Shablak, Ph.D., 443-9219
Evaluation Director – Hayley Cavino, M.S., 443-9219
Program Coordinator – Laura Payne-Bourcy, Ph.D., 443-9219
Office Manager – Mary T. Welker, A.S., 443-9219