It is supported by Berkeley’s City and Regional Planning Department and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Excerpted from the Brookings Institute Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy’s “”Urban Universities and their Role in Central City Economies”", December 1997

Contact: E-mail Georg Gadow or call him at 303.556.3325

Economic Prosperity and Social Justice
– The New London Development Corporation (NLDC) was re-energized in 1997 when Connecticut College President Claire L. Gaudiani became its president. The NLDC s aim is to increase the city s tax base, increase the number of jobs in the city, and enhance the quality of life for all of New London s residents. NLDC was instrumental in securing a decision by Pfizer, Inc. to commit to building its $270 million Global Development Facility in New London. Pfizer’s commitment has been leveraged into other projects in New London. Projects under way include a state park at Fort Trumbull (a Civil War era fort adjoining Pfizer), an industrial pier development, downtown housing and retail space projects, and a dynamic new section of the city with a 200-room hotel, marina, health club, conference facility, and residences. The State of Connecticut has committed $60 million so far with a total of over $715 million committed from public and private sources. In December of 1998, the Connecticut College Board of Trustees voted $2.6 million from the College s endowment to be used as working capital.

In response to the economic development activities, Connecticut College has created the New London Social Justice Initiative. The broad goal for this initiative is to bring Connecticut College to a new level of engagement with its community leading to transformational changes for both Connecticut College and New London. This transformation yields an improved quality of life for New Londoners and an enhanced educational experience for Connecticut College students.

The philosophy behind the initiative is to ensure that the renaissance , which has started and will take place in New London over the next several years benefits all residents. Economic prosperity is only half of the equation. The other half is social justice, which must go hand in hand with economic prosperity. They are, in fact, two sides of the same coin. The work of the social justice initiative builds on the assets, strengths and experiences of our community to create a level of social transformation to match what is already occurring on the economic side.

A series of new programs in five areas health and wellness, early childhood development, K-12 education, the arts and public spaces, and economic opportunity — have been developed by the faculty in connection with this Initiative and the College s newest strategic plan. These programs will help to lead the transformation of New London and engage students and faculty in exciting elements of New London s emerging renaissance.

Contact person: Margaret Sheridan , Director, Holleran Center for Community Action & Public Policy,

Web: http://www.conncoll.edu/academics/centers/hollerancenter/index.html

Trinity funds these activities through $10 million in seed money from local partners such as Hartford hospital, Connecticut Public Television, and Hartford-based companies. It also has received $1.6 million in ISTEA and HUD monies and a $75 million pledge from the Fannie Mae Foundation for low-rate mortgage financing.

Excerpted from the Brookings Institute Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy’s “”Urban Universities and their Role in Central City Economies”", December 1997

The University is working in tandem with private developers, the city of New Haven, local banks, and other groups to conduct the revitalization. It also received financial assistance through tax-credits and a $2.3 million HUD grant and an ISTEA grant.

So far the project has had positive effects on the community. As of May 1997 Yale had invested $41,715,000 in these and other revitalization projects.

Excerpted from the Brookings Institute Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy’s “”Urban Universities and their Role in Central City Economies”", December 1997

Contact: Teresa Taylor at (478) 445-5772 or ttaylor {at} gcsu(.)edu

From Service Matters 1998: Engaging Higher Education In the Renewal of America s Communities and American Democracy

Web site: http://ccts2.cti.depaul.edu/whpdc/index.htm

Contact: William Howard, Executive Director, williamhoward {at} aol(.)com

Service Matters 1998: Engaging Higher Education In the Renewal of America s Communities and American Democracy

Contact person: Sarah E. Gallop, MIT Office of Government and Community Relations, seg {at} mit(.)edu

Fitchburg, Massachusetts, like many small cities around the United States, has a downtown that looks more like a ghost town; the growth of the suburbs has come at the expense of the inner city. Two years ago, the Fitchburg Safe and Healthy Neighborhood Coalition came to Fitchburg State University, asking for their assistance to build and revitalize the community of Fitchburg. The two organizations joined together to apply for funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development s Office of University Partnerships an office developed to recognize the potential of such partnerships to address urban problems.

With this funding, the Fitchburg partners have embarked on a series of initiatives that highlight the variety of ways in which campuses across the country have engaged in community development. These include: initiating neighborhood planning; improving public health; supporting economic development; and changes within the structure of the university as a result.

The first and foremost role of the university in community development is as a support system for neighborhood residents to discuss how they want to change their community. Community development simply cannot occur if the community itself is not the central figure in all planning. Faculty and staff at Fitchburg State participate in meetings with neighborhood associations and community residents to discuss the residents plans and vision for the community. Through these meetings, ideas are shared and planning for specific projects begins. The university also helps leaders of community organizations to build their skills through the Citizens Leadership Institute, which provides training for leaders of community organizations.

A number of community development efforts focus on the health of the community. In Fitchburg, the neighborhood coalition had already conducted a health needs assessment before the university began working with them. When the university joined the partnership, the neighborhood association found that they were able to re-assess what they could accomplish. Working together, the university and community agencies developed an information referral system for community residents to more easily access health services. Plans now call for the development of a community health clinic over the next year. Economic development is key to bringing back the jobs and commercial life that enhance community development. Fitchburg State and the local community development corporation are attacking this issue on two fronts. First, they have developed an entrepreneurial training program for small business owners and residents with entrepreneurial aspirations to learn effective business practices. Second, they have developed the Main Street Business Support Center, a building which houses the training program and also serves as a place for community members and associations to meet downtown.

These efforts have led to introspection and change at Fitchburg State, as various departments re-envision how they can support the community. The university has provided release time for the chairs of the nursing and business departments to support efforts in the community. The nursing department is revising its curriculum to integrate service-learning and community engagement. Various other faculty members, students, and staff have begun to commit their time and university resources to community activities that support the community development effort.

Through community development, Fitchburg State has begun to redefine its role in the community, and the community s role in higher education.

From Service Matters 1998: Engaging Higher Education In the Renewal of America s Communities and American Democracy

For more information: http://www.fsc.edu/community/aboutus/partnership/

Since 1989, Salisbury State University students have provided in excess of 14,000 volunteer hours on 5122 taxpayer contracts. In 1999 alone, students completed over 2000 volunteer hours on 531 taxpayer contracts. Students prepare multiple tax returns, answer a variety of taxpayer questions and do quality reviews of returns brought in for filing. They interact regularly with IRS professionals, must deal with a varied clientele including individuals of all racial, ethnic, economic and educational backgrounds. They must exhibit excellent communication skills and must be focused and able to listen attentively. Students must also maintain professional decorum at all times and their demeanor and attitudes must reflect positively on the IRS and on Salisbury State University.

This year, the IRS hosted an appreciation reception for the 21 Perdue School Accounting majors who completed 2030 hours of service to their community. Each student received a “”Spirit of America”" certificate and a personal letter from a representative of the IRS district office. The outstanding contribution VITA students make to the community should not go unacknowledged. While somewhat different than the traditional examples of good citizenship often heralded, this program meets and even surpasses the ideals of civic engagement.

Perdue School of Business, Dep’t of Accounting and Legal Studies: http://www.salisbury.edu/schools/Perdue/AcctLegal/

Excerpted from the Brookings Institute Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy’s “”Urban Universities and their Role in Central City Economies”", December 1997

What Is Action Research?
Action research involves students, faculty and community members to work collaboratively on research that has been requested by a nonprofit, government or neighborhood organization. A unique characteristic of action research is that the community serves as an active contributor and agent of change by participating in the design, execution, evaluation, and dissemination of academic research. Action research also provides faculty with an opportunity to synthesize their mandate for excellence in teaching, research, and service.

Why Concentrate On the East Side?
The neighborhoods on St. Paul’s East Side were selected because of the community’s demographics, problems, and opportunities. Of the 30,000 people living on the East Side, one third experience serious poverty, one third are struggling, and one third are solidly in the middle class. Neighborhood-based organizations face incredible challenges: high mobility of residents; deteriorating housing stock and business infrastructure; and depleting economic resources. Although the community has been economically impaired, the possibilities for financial reinvestment and the capitalization of human resource assets are tremendous.

Action Research at Macalester
Led by the Director of Community Service and by a former St. Paul Mayor who is now a Visiting Professor of Urban Studies, the initiative works with residents to look at issues such as housing and employment and to identify priorities for future economic development. Faculty and students pursue action research projects as part of Macalester courses or senior honors projects with the expectation that the results will have broader community impact. For instance, an Urban Geography Field Seminar class recently produced an 80-page book on the economic potential of the main business district of the East Side neighborhood; the book is being used by the current mayor to secure funding for the area from the state legislature. To date, faculty and students from Urban Studies, Sociology, Geography, Economics, Political Science, Education and Mathematics departments have participated. Faculty teams focused on the natural sciences and health care issues are developing. The efforts are supported by college funding, a federally funded HUD grant, and a grant from Minnesota Campus Compact and Minnesota Higher Education Services Office through the Corporation for National Service Learn and Serve America Program.

Community Service Office web site: www.macalester.edu/cso/

From Service Matters 1998: Engaging Higher Education In the Renewal of America s Communities and American Democracy

Contact:
UNC School of Law
Van Hecke-Wettach Hall,
100 Ridge Road
CB #3380
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3380
(919) 962-5106

From Service Matters 1998: Engaging Higher Education In the Renewal of America s Communities and American Democracy

e-mail: mdi {at} snhu(.)edu

website: Click here to go to websote.

Website: http://www.raritanval.edu/departments/busadmin/index.htm

Website: http://www.raritanval.edu/departments/busadmin/index.htm

From Service Matters 1998: Engaging Higher Education In the Renewal of America s Communities and American Democracy

The Initiative is a partnership that strengthens the relationship between Union College and the City of Schenectady now and into the future. For the City, a Schenectady neighborhood receives a much-needed infusion of capital; and the College benefits by enhancing student, staff, and faculty housing, as well as by improving the environment outside our gates.

The US Initiative attacks the ever-worsening problem of urban decay at its core. By offering a number of incentives attractive mortgage programs, full-tuition scholarships for neighborhood residents, the construction of a community center, the creation of a neighborhood association, and the establishment of a security office in the neighborhood the US Initiative encourages home ownership, a crucial factor in stabilizing and strengthening a community.

As part of the effort, the College has acquired 40 properties in the initiative area that will be completely renovated for student, staff, and faculty housing by Fall 2000. Many of the properties in the USI area were absentee-owned residences; houses were neglected, tenants paid unreasonable rents. The US Initiative addresses that issue by providing tuition-free scholarship funds, which gives prospective buyers an incentive to turn absentee-owned properties into family homes. Today, the neighborhood is transformed. With the vast majority of Union s work on houses complete, and with major streetscape improvements underway, the neighborhood is now considered one of the more striking areas in the entire City of Schenectady. And, USI incentives have generated more than ten home purchases in the Initiative area, which reverses an ongoing trend of slumping home sales in the City of Schenectady.

Another benefit that resulted from Union s Initiative is improved town/gown relations, which represents a significant measure of the overall success of the program. The key to this success is keeping the lines of communication open. Public meetings with Union s neighbors and the City of Schenectady to both provide information and seek feedback enabled the College to move forward as a community to better the neighborhood.

Finally, in addition to the community benefit, students gain from being engaged in Union s revitalization efforts. Within the target neighborhood and beyond, Union students participate in such activities as Big Brothers and Big Sisters, tutoring in Schenectady schools, mentoring, neighborhood watch programs, and community work projects.

Gretchel Tyson, director of affirmative action and community outreach, ysong {at} union(.)edu
Union-Schenectady Initiative web site: http://www.union.edu/News/CollegeNews/USI/

It has received $6 million for the incubator program which is comprised of state grant and loan money and a conventional loan.

Excerpted from the Brookings Institute Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy’s “”Urban Universities and their Role in Central City Economies”", December 1997

Excerpted from the Brookings Institute Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy’s “”Urban Universities and their Role in Central City Economies”", December 1997