The Urban Affairs Center

1
The Urban Affairs Center
A Vision

• Building Upon Existing Strengths Identifying
  New Opportunities

2
The Urban Affairs Center
The Context

• The Ohio Urban University Program

3
The Urban University Program

• Cleveland State University
• Kent State University
• The Ohio State University
• The University of Akron
• The University of Toledo
• University of Cincinnati
• Wright State University
• Youngstown State University

4
UUP Mission

• The mission of the Ohio Urban University Program
  is to apply the resources of urban universities
  to help identify urban problems and propose
  solutions designed to enhance the vitality of
  Ohios urban regions and distressed central
  cities. This mission will be implemented through
  collaborative university networks and individual
  centers of excellence.

5
UUP Goals

• Address Ohios urban problems and opportunities
  by supporting collaborative inter-institutional
  research and service networks.
• Propose solutions by undertaking research,
  education and training, technical assistance,
  database development, and design services.
• Communicate findings of UUP-related activities to
  state and local policy makers and citizens.
• Develop and encourage a synergistic process of
  combining the strengths of traditional university
  research and teaching with the public service
  role of the urban university.

6
The University of ToledoUrban Affairs Center
August 1999

• What I Found!

7
The Hidden Jewel

• The Urban Affairs Center is one of Toledos
  hidden jewels!

Andy Benson, New Ohio Institute UAC Advisory
Committee Member
8
Existing Strengths

• Numerous projects
• Long term positive relationships and credibility
• Talented staff
• Good facilities technology
• Controls its own budget
• Relationship with UUP

9
The Revised Mission

• The Urban Affairs Center is an applied research
  unit of The University of Toledo and a member of
  the Ohio Urban University Program. Our mission is
  to enhance the vitality of, and improve the
  quality of life in, Northwest Ohio's urban
  region. To accomplish this we will apply the
  resources of The University of Toledo, network
  with other Urban Universities, and collaborate
  with local partners to help identify urban
  problems and propose solutions. Our efforts will
  include professional research, technical
  assistance, education, training, community
  service, outreach, database development, program
  development, and publication and distribution of
  research findings.

10
Summary UACs Major Organizational Goals

• Forge and strengthen collaborative partnerships
• Be responsive to needs identified by the
  community
• Generate innovative ideas demonstration
  projects
• Promote and extend civil dialogue on issues of
  regional concern
• Make urban data, research findings, innovative
  strategies more accessible

11
Summary UACs Major Organizational Goals

• Mobilize the resources of UUP to benefit our
  region
• Communicate research results recommendations to
  policy maker and citizens
• Encourage UT faculty to investigate urban issues
• Educate and train public officials, community
  organizations, community leaders, and citizens to
  more effectively address urban regional issues
• Generate and leverage additional resources to
  support the Centers work

12
Expanding UponExisting Strengths

• Urban Regional Planning
• Economic Development
• Community Development and Preservation

13
Identifying New Opportunities

• Increase the capacity of the UAC to take on more
  projects
• Implement What Works Seminar Series
• Promote and support more collaborative research
  projects
• Pursue Prestige Projects that will lead to
  recognition for UAC and University
• Work with Community Advisory Committees to
  identify opportunities expand out image

14
The UAC
My Vision

• What Id Like to Build
• How Id Like to Build It

15
The UAC the Center of Urban Innovation and Praxis

• A comfortable home where faculty and community
  meet to think and plan, knowing ther ideas will
  be taken seriously and with the capacity to
  enhance them.
• A site of civic discourse where widespread
  participation is valued and where people,
  business, and ideas flourish.
• Improving the quality of peoples lives - a
  source of applied research and projects that
  progressively improve our condition.
• Where good ideas come to thrive - the lead actor
  helping to identify and transfer important new
  insights between the University and the
  community.
• An organizing force - an essential partner for
  all groups seeking to address an urban issue,
  research an urban topic, and/or mobilize support
  for a project or program in the Toledo region.
• A place of eminence - a site of cutting-edge
  research and demonstration projects that attract
  national recognition.

16
How to Build It

• Build, Link, Embed Communities
• Guiding Values
• Guiding Strategies

17
An Effective UAC Director

• Is multi-disciplinary in training and experience
• Cultivates good working relationships with
  faculty members from all colleges and departments
• Has taught engaged in research on social,
  economic, and policy issues effecting urban
  communities
• Has experience working in a university applied
  research outreach center
• Is a respected member of the academic, social,
  political, economic networks that permeate the
  region.
• Must be able to communicate and publicize the
  efforts and good work of UAC and the University
  as a Whole.

18
Conclusion

• For the Urban Affairs Center to be effective it
  must solve problems and promote innovative ideas
  on and off campus. The Director must draw upon
  the insights and knowledge of the best people he
  or she can find on-campus, off-campus,or brought
  in from other campuses and other communities. The
  Director must listen and then help bring together
  the University and community partners who can
  address the issue. This may include helping to
  identify and leverage the resources needed to
  succeed. In sum, you advance a center, a
  university, a city and a region forward by
  planning carefully, being inclusive, building
  skillfully, mobilizing resources, ands sharing
  credit as accomplishments occur.