Sunnyvale: A Plan to Close the Gap

Between the Town and the Academy

Alex C. Lange, Jennifer Boozer, and Veronica Roman

The University of Georgia

Overview of Presentation

• Building Proper Partnerships

• Mission and Vision of Plan

• Overview of Plan

• Assessment

• Oversight and Maintenance

Building Proper Partnerships

1. Understand Where We Are Presently

2. Establish a Mutual Mission, Goals, and Outcomes

3. Create Group Synergy Through Intentional Organization

4. Designate Shared Resources and Decision-Making

5. Create an Agreement

6. Assess Progress

Mission and Vision of the Action Plan

The mission of our plan is to increase positive engagement between the campus and the community through sharing of resources, effective use of social media, and co-curricular opportunities for service.

The vision of our plan is a harmonious, interdependent relationship between the town and the university, where mutual respect for each is upheld.

Overview of Five-Year Plan

• Short-Term Goalso Create Buy-In and Supporto Assess Needs of Campus and Communityo Begin Awareness of Relationship

• Long-Term Goalso Service-Learning Implementationo Establishing Office of Community Relations

• Task Force Oversight of Implementation

Task Force for Plan

• Dean of Students and Deputy Mayor, Co-Chairs

• 2 Student Affairs Officers

• 2 Professors/Instructors

• 2 Students

• President's Representative

• 2 Officers from the Mayor's Office

• 2 Business Owners

• 2 Community Members

• Mayor's Representative

#BrightenSunnyvale

Spring 2013

• Create Buy-In and Support

• Assess Needs of Campus and Community

• Bring Awareness of Relationship

Spring 2013 Day of Service

Mississippi State University Service DAWGS Day

1. Focus on student involvement

2. Reach out to nonprofits and agencies using task force community contacts to assess areas of need

3. Assess student and community thoughts and opinions post-event

Fall 2014

• Instagram/Foursquare/Twitter Hashtag Introduction at Orientation

• Identify Student Affairs Contributions

• Second Day of Service

• Help promote campus-sponsored evening programs to provide alternative after-hours activities for students

Spring 2014

• Service-Learning Initiative Piloted by 2 Classes

• Community Reports at Trustee Meetings

• Academy Reports at Community Meetings

2015 - 2016 Academic Year

• Service-Learning Initiative

• Community Relations Office Established

• Opportunities for community to participate on campus

• Ongoing Assessment

Questions?

For further clarification after this meeting, please contact one of the committee members.

Veronica Romanvroman@uga.edu(404) 406-7782

Alex Langeaclange@uga.edu(954) 651-4492

Jennifer Boozerjboozer@uga.edu(919) 623-8556

References

• Bringle, R. G., & Hatcher, J. A. (2002). Campus–Community Partnerships: The Terms of Engagement. Journal Of Social Issues, 58(3), 503-516. doi:10.1111/1540-4560.00273

• Booker, S.L. (2006). From the classroom to the council chamber: How town gown collaborations can support citizen leadership. National Civic Review, 95(4), 37-42.

• Manzo, M. (2012) Reaching millennials on instagram | Social Media Today. Social media news, strategy, tools, and techniques | Social Media Today. Retrieved from http://socialmediatoday.com/marymanzo/1038306/reaching-millennials-instagram

• McNall, M., Reed, C., Brown, R., & Allen, A. (2009). Brokering Community–University Engagement. Innovative Higher Education, 33(5), 317-331. doi:10.1007/s10755-008-9086-8

• Stevenson, J. M. (1998). Bridging Academies and Economies for the Future: Leadership and Partnership for `Town and Gown' Communities. Education, 119(1), 126.