About TRI

Welcome to TRI

The Teaching Research Institute (TRI) was established in the early 1960s as a research and development arm of the Chancellor's Office. In 1989, TRI transferred from the Oregon University System to the Provost's Office at Western Oregon University (WOU), and has since become an integral part of the WOU campus at Todd Hall. Throughout its history TRI has been a facilitator of educational and human service improvement with a national reputation in the field of education. TRI has fostered close working relationships with many schools, districts and teacher education programs.

An Architectural History of Todd Hall

TRI has nearly 70 staff members in its main office in Monmouth and a branch office in Eugene, Oregon. The organization has 45 projects and continues a mission of research and development in a variety of educational endeavors. Specific areas of work include studies examining the relationship between teaching and learning, model development and training in early childhood education, technical assistance in special education, research and development work in the area of traumatic brain injury and national technical assistance and information dissemination for deaf-blind individuals and their families.

The TRI faculty represents a broad array of educational and experiential backgrounds. While most senior faculty have been working in their fields for over 20 years, there is also an infusion of fresh talent to continually add depth and breadth of knowledge to new and evolving projects.

To attain this mission, the Teaching Research Institute conducts a comprehensive multi-disciplinary program of research, evaluation, program/model development, training, technical assistance, direct service and dissemination serving both typical and special populations of all ages at the local, state, regional and national levels. The institute is guided by partnerships with consumers, families and practitioners and measures the effectiveness of its work by its impact on their lives.

Projects at the Teaching Research Institute are funded through a variety of local, state and national organizations including the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Maternal Child Health Bureau, National Institutes of Health, State agencies and private funding sources.

Thank you to our funding agencies, partners and collaborators