The following is an excerpt from Concordia University’s web page, 3 to PhD: The Power of Possibilities (Concordia University, n.d.-b).
Imagine going to class each week not in a lecture hall, but in an elementary school classroom. Or health clinic. Or food pantry. Or maker space. That’s the idea behind 3 to PhD® —an integrated, immersive learning partnership between Concordia University, Portland Public Schools’ Faubion School, Trillium Family Services, basics (formerly Pacific Foods), and Kaiser Permanente—a partnership designed to close the opportunity gap and ensure that every child can fulfill their potential. The collective vision, years in the making, is for a safer, healthier, and better educated community—something that can be replicated anywhere in the nation and beyond.
The home of this groundbreaking new model is a three-story, 138,000 square foot 3 to PhD facility, serving up to 800 pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade students and home to Concordia’s College of Education, students, faculty, and staff. From day one, Concordia students from every degree program will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in their field while making an appreciable difference in the lives of Faubion students and families. At Concordia, our mission as a Christian university is to prepare leaders for the transformation of society. The 3 to PhD initiative is our mission in action—working collaboratively to strengthen the community from the ground up.