University Circle, a premier center of institutional and museum richness has exceeded their reputation by bringing outstanding distance learning opportunities to the students of Lake and Geauga Counties. Our teachers have commented on the excellent programs provided by The Cleveland Museum of Art, The Western Reserve Historical Society, The Cleveland Institute of Music, and most recently The Cleveland Botanical Gardens and how their engaging presentations have not only enhanced the teachers' curriculum but also how they align with the state content standards. Our students have all gained new knowledge and love the distance learning experience.

-Michael Bloom, Director of Instructional Technology, Lake County Educational Service Center

VISION STATEMENT
Establish University Circle as a major center for the development and delivery of high quality distance learning content.

PURPOSE OF CONSORTIUM
University Circle Interactive, Cleveland is a consortium of museums, educational and cultural institutions working as a distance learning content-provider collaborative to promote education using the resources and collections of their organizations. The collaborative represents the interests of our members for training, creation and the production of distance learning content aligned to academic standards. We work together to envision and produce unique learning opportunities in the distance learning environment.

PURPOSE OF WEB SITE
The UCIC portal web site's primary purpose is to provide educators with a user-friendly and searchable interface to easily locate and register for distance learning programs and events of interest. The site provides basic information concerning lessons and events to the educational community, and a way to communicate with our providers to find out more about a specific program of interest. It also provides information about how to connect with us in the distance learning environment.

HISTORY
Preserving and advancing the extraordinary quality of University Circle is the charge of University Circle Incorporated (UCI). UCI is the non-profit organization established in 1957 to nurture the growth of University Circle, Cleveland's cultural, educational and medical center.. The shared community vision for this unique one-square mile is to develop the Circle into one of the premier urban districts in the world. This vision was expressed in Shaping the Future of University Circle, a wide-ranging plan unveiled in 2000 for enhancing the area's vitality, beauty, accessibility, and sense of community as University Circle moves into the 21st century.

In Shaping The Future of University Circle, the 2000 strategic plan, distance learning was identified as a powerful way to reach many of the common educational goals of University Circle member institutions. WVIZ/PBS ideastream and University Circle Incorporated began a working partnership with the goal of establishing distance-learning in University Circle to serve a variety of audiences. This unique partnership is dedicated to producing quality interactive and unique distance learning experiences using the resources of world-class educational, cultural, civic and cultural partner institutions.

UCIC MEMBER INSTITUTIONS

University Circle Incorporated, WVIZ/PBS ideastream, African American Museum, Cleveland Botanical Garden, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland Institute of Music, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Healthspace Cleveland, The Cleveland Museum of Art, The Cleveland Orchestra, The Western Reserve Historical Society

Acknowledgements:

UCIC is grateful for the support of these funders: The National Endowment for the Arts,
The Cleveland Foundation, George Gund Foundation, The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, SBC Ameritech - Community Technology Fund The Bank Clearinghouse The Wean Foundation Polycom Starbak Communications, Inc., Leonard Martien Fund.

Halldale Fanfare provided by The Cleveland Institute of Music: Composer - Mark George, Trumpet - Sarah Viens, Trumpet - John Armstrong, Horn - Robert Reardon, Trombone - Hollie Lawing, Tuba - Andrew Welborn, Recording Engineer - Jesse Lewis