“The University Connection”
At a recent NYCOM conference in Buffalo we learned about the “university connection” and the important role it can play in helping upstate New York communities achieve their goals with respect to economic development, “Main Street” revitalization and sustainable paths to local prosperity.
By the “university connection” we mean the whole constellation of colleges and universities all across the state, and the many different ways in which their resources and services can be tapped by local leaders in our towns, villages and cities. We are indeed fortunate to have here in New York one of the highest concentrations of institutions of higher learning of nearly anyplace in the whole country. Upstate New York communities - including very small communities in some of the most rural counties of the state - need to get in touch with what our universities have to offer.
At the NYCOM conference in Buffalo the speakers in the breakout session on this topic represented Niagara University and the University at Buffalo. During their valuable presentation they summarized eight specific ways in which communities can utilize the resources and services of higher education:
1. Courses, studios and workshops
2. Grant writing assistance
3. Technical assistance in terms of service delivery
4. Technical assistance in terms of information technology
5. General research
6. Specific research
7. Speakers & forums
8. Online or other public resources
Here at Sustainable NY we were already familiar with several important, university-based information portals relating to community development in the region. We have them bookmarked and have relied on them for quite some time. The NYCOM session prompted us to look up a few more. Herewith, a list of valuable community outreach Web sites representing several major universities all across the state:
The Regional Institute (University at Buffalo)
The Regional Knowledge Network (University at Buffalo)
Community and Rural Development Institute (Cornell University)
The Center for Technology in Government (SUNY/Albany)
The SUNY/Oswego Sustainability Initiative
Lake Ontario Coastal Initiative (SUNY/Brockport)
New York State Wind Energy Information Collaborative (Hobart & William Smith Colleges)
ESF Outreach: A Better World Through Environmental Discovery (SUNY/ESF at Syracuse)
Take a look at a few of these university links, and you will begin to get a feel for the wealth of information and assistance that is out there in the university community. By delving into these great Web sites you can harness the power of New Yorks great universities and put it to work in your community.
Tools for Communities | Chris Nill | 29 April 2007 |
