We thought you would be interested in the new report
"Democratic
Devolution: How America’s Colleges and Universities Can
Strengthen Their Communities," released by the Progressive Policy
Institute, an independent, DC-based think tank.
The report can be downloaded at http://bit.ly/S1ZRsL
The report calls for new civic partnerships between
government and higher education to tackle urgent community problems,especially
low-performing schools. The report seeks to make service to their
communities once again an integral part of the public mission of every U.S.
college and university. The report
includes examples from the University of Pennsylvania, Indiana University
Purdue University Indianapolis, Syracuse University, and Widener University.
A summary of the report's recommendations follow:
"Through financial incentives and the bully pulpit,
government should encourage community colleges, colleges, and universities to
do well by doing good — that is, to better realize their missions by
contributing significantly to developing and sustaining democratic schools and
communities. Specific steps for the
federal government to help catalyze Higher Education-Civic Partnerships
include:
1. Create a multi-agency, multi-sector federal commission
designed to help forge civic partnerships between colleges and universities and
their surrounding communities.
2. The Commission should develop strategies for
coordinating federal programs and funding streams to help catalyze the
formation of local coalitions of civic partners, including higher educational
institutions.
3. The Commission should promote regional consortia of
higher educational institutions dedicated to improving schooling and community
life.
4. Create prestigious Presidential Awards for outstanding
local and regional Higher Education-Civic Partnerships to provide recognition
and further legitimize the work.
5. Provide support for higher education-civic
partnerships that demonstrate community benefit, not simply benefit to the
college or university, as well as transparent and democratic collaborations
with local partners.
Thanks,
Rahma Osman
CCPH Program Assistant
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Community-Campus Partnerships for Health promotes health
equity and social justice through partnerships between communities and academic
institutions.
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