ALLIANCE FOR EDUCATION: A MODEL IN PUBLIC LANDS PARTNERSHIP

On July 26, 2006, Southern Utah University (SUU) signed an "Alliance for Education" that establishes a formal partnership with Bryce Canyon National Park. The stated mission of this partnership is to: protect Park resources; enhance visitor opportunities; expand use of the Park as a resource; provide excellent opportunities for SUU students; and enhance the economic, technological, and cultural development of local communities. The opportunities provided are enormous, and include internship opportunities for SUU students.

The High Plateaus Institute (HPI) located in the Park is a cooperative venture with Bryce Canyon Natural History Association (BCNHA). The HPI is designed to foster scientific inquiry, provide unique learning and experiential opportunities, engage the academic community, and improve stewardship of the Park's natural and cultural resources. In practical terms, the HPI provides a base for the scientific community to conduct research activities within, and around, the Park.

The Alliance has already provided some significant opportunities for SUU students, Park visitors, and SUU faculty. Much needed technical input was provided by SUU faculty after a recent major rock fall in the Wall Street segment of the Navajo Loop Trail, Bryce Canyon National Park, caused trail closure. After consultation between SUU engineering and geoscience faculty and Park resource managers, a plan for stabilization and interpretation of this significant geological event was drafted.