HUD Secretary Henry G. Cisneros has pointed out that, "The long-term futures of both the city and the university in this country are so intertwined that one cannot -- or perhaps will not -- survive without the other." Universities, with their extensive intellectual and economic resources, can help the communities around them in many ways. University-Community Partnerships: Current Practices, a new report published by HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research, documents the initiatives of over 180 universities that make a difference in their communities.
The programs profiled in this report were nominated by their host universities for the University Partnership Awards sponsored by HUD's Office of University Partnerships (OUP). OUP was established by Secretary Cisneros to assist universities in partnering with their neighbors to address community problems. These institutions of higher learning form partnerships with school districts, public housing authorities, community-based organizations, and local governments to promote technical assistance, much-needed social services, locally applied research, and opportunities for faculty, students, and community residents to learn from each other.
Cleveland State University's Build Up Greater Cleveland (BUGC) Program is promoting economic growth by helping rebuild the city's infrastructure. The university is facilitating coordination between public agencies and utilities, annually reviewing Cleveland's capital needs, evaluating financing alternatives, and recommending fundraising strategies to BUGC.
Through its Impact North Carolina Program, Appalachian State University (ASU) is working with Watauga County schools and three telecommunications firms to link the university and the public schools with interactive video, voice, and data capabilities that both students and teachers are accessing for a variety of purposes.
Wayne State University's Urban Safety Program is reaching out to the Emmanuel neighborhood of Detroit. Wayne State is working with the Emmanuel Community Center and local law enforcement officials to train public school students and teachers in nonviolent dispute resolution and to assist with neighborhood planning. The project also includes a summer youth employment component.
The University of Rhode Island is teaming with Fannie Mae, local lenders, community-based organizations, and others through its Cooperative Extension Affordable Housing Project. Since 1986 the program has included homeownership training for low- and moderate-income persons, property management education, and workshops for nonprofit housing organizations.
The University of Oregon's Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) Program is training college-level students to become resource assistants to rural communities with resource-sensitive watersheds. The students are spending 1 year in the community examining water system conditions and training residents in water quality monitoring and environmental restoration.
This report illustrates the many ways that universities can work in communities to reduce economic and social isolation and build on local assets. University-Community Partnerships: Current Practices is now available from HUD USER for $5. Please contact HUD USER to obtain print copies.
To obtain further information on the University Partnerships Clearinghouse, please contact University Partnerships Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 23268, Washington, D.C. 20026-3268. Phone: 1-800-245-2691; E-mail: helpdesk@huduser.gov.
