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Featured College Town
Grinnell, IA
Grinnell College |
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 The Newsstand is being sent to you as an introduction to the International Town & Gown Association. Members of the ITGA receive this twice-weekly publication and a monthly news letter highlighting college town news from around the world. Membership opportunities are available at www.town-gown.net. |
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College Town Leadership
Town of Amherst and Hampshire College work to mitigate emergency calls and costsAMHERST, MA - As written by The Amherst Bulletin, officials from Hampshire College and the Town of Amherst are working on a solution for the growing number of emergency response calls being provided by the town to the private college. While the University of Massachusetts and Amherst College pay an annual contract fee for services in including ambulance and fire service, Hampshire College is proposing an action plan to change students' behavior and minimizing calls to the campus. UMass will pay the town in excess of $425,000 annually for five years for fire and ambulance service, and in each of the last two years the Town of Amherst will collect $120,000 and $130,000 from Amherst College as assistance for the emergency services. Town officials have discussed "creative ways" to work with their town-gown partners in ways other than direct monetary contributions.
Elon, NC leaders Split Over Noise OrdinanceELON, NC - A possible ordinance placing fines on late-night noise and rowdy parties has the town - and Elon University students- divided according to The Times News. Town staff aren't sure fines are needed and Elon University students believe noise disputes ought to be handled between neighbors. In 2008, Elon police responded to 128 complaints of loud noise. Ninety-four of those complaints stemmed from loud music. May was the loudest month of 2008, likely due to graduation parties, with 23 loud noise calls coming into the county call center. Several years ago, the town adopted an ordinance restricting rentals to no more than three unrelated tenants per home or apartment to help cut down on parties.
The 'Vehicle City' has become 'University Town'FLINT, MI - Flint Community Examiner reports that the city of Flint, Michigan, has been called a lot of things, not all of them nearly as nice as "Vehicle City." But, the one people around here are favoring is "University Town." That's because of growth in the education sector of the local economy. On February 4th, the University of Michigan-Flint announced that the "The Riverfront Character Inn" (the former Hyatt Regency Hotel), will become a student housing complex in downtown Flint for its students. Flint, has over 25,000 students who attend either UM-Flint, Mott Community College, Kettering University, or Baker College, in "The Vehicle City."
Budget Travel magazine is Accepting Votes for the Nation's Coolest Small Town GRINNEL, IA - The Scarlet & Black News informs its readers that Budget Travel magazine is opening up the task of selecting its annual list of America's Coolest Small Towns to online voters from across the globe. Out of the 22 finalists, the college town of Grinnell is one of the competitors seeking the title of "coolest". The magazine's editors chose the contenders from among 152 reader-nominated towns with populations under 10,000. In addition to the online poll that will run through early March, the final selection of the ten "coolest towns" will be based on comments, photos and videos submitted by website visitors describing why their favorite town should be featured.A Coolest Small Town is a town of under 10,000 residents that's beginning to draw attention-and new residents-because of the quality of life, arts, and restaurant scene, or proximity to nature. These are towns with an edge, with avant-garde galleries, not country stores. You can see if your college town made the cut or to vote for Grinnell or other small town at www.budgettravel.com.
Collin College will Receive Comments Regarding a New Campus Proposed for FarmersvilleFARNERSVILLE, TX - A report by The Farmersville Times tells that a town hall meeting will be held to help determine if a campus of Collin College will be built in Farmersville, or elsewhere. The college is planning to build a campus in Farmersville, but have not determined if it will be their next construction project or if it will be delayed until other campuses have been constructed. A Collin College trustee said that the Board is eager to hear the community's hopes for the future of higher education in the area. The proposed campus would occupy 75 acres, provide a two year curriculum, initially enroll 1,000 students and have an annual economic impact on the region estimated at $10 million.
China builds 361 off-campus postdoctoral research centers in 2008 CHINA - According to The People's Daily, China has invested in the construction 361 off-campus postdoctoral research centers in 2008 and selected nearly 4000 people to receive special government allowances. In addition, there were over two million people participating in the knowledge upgrading training program for specialized technical personnel. |
Parking and Transportation
Tucson and University of Arizona Partner to Install "Bike Box" to Aid CyclistsTUCSON, AZ - The Daily Wildcat writes that the University of Arizona and the City of Tuscon are working together to create "Bike Boxes" at highway intersections and will clearly designate a waiting area for cyclists. Bike boxes are used in Portland, Ore. and have been highly effective for
improving cyclist safety. Bikers wait in front of cars at a stoplight, in full view of the drivers. Bikers will cross the street ahead of the drivers, and once through the intersection, they will merge back into the bike lane. The box will be marked with slip-resistant, bright green thermoplastic on the ground. There will be signs in the area telling bikers and drivers what do to. There are more than 6,000 students and faculty in the Tucson off-campus community who travel by bike each day. |
Economy and Budget
College Town Uses Economic Crunch to Shore Up Finances
FROSTBURG, MD - According to the The Appalachian Independent, Frostburg is moving to strengthen its finances even as the national economic crisis continues to worsen. These moves by the Frostburg officials will be positioning the city to weather any fiscal storm that may trickle down from the state and federal governments. The Mayor and City Council moved to refinance long-term debt, pay off an old loan, and establish a first-ever rainy day fund.
University in Australia Reduces Staff by Contracting Work Overseas
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - A writer for The Canberra Times reports that The University of Canberra will replace about 50 local workers by contracting their work to companies in India in a bid to save money. University officials said the university council had
signed an offshore tender to handle some of its information technology, student admissions, payroll and finance functions and the jobs would move to India by the end of next month. The move is expected to save the University about $8 million over the next five years which would be directed into teaching and learning.
Schools Looking at Public-Private Partnerships to Develop Campuses
Contract Magazine writes a report that with budget dollars tight in both public education and real estate development, the time for public-private partnerships on school and college campuses has finally arrived. The joining of town-and-gown to develop campus
real estate assets can result in enhanced revenues for educational districts, improved curriculum for students, and feasible project costs for developers. Colleges with debt free land may make perfect partners for private developers to partner on public-private ventures.
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| Alcohol & Enforcement in College Towns
The Debate On Lowering The Drinking AgeCBS News is reporting that a group of over 100 college presidents - including the heads of Dartmouth,
Virginia Tech and Duke - signed a declaration stating that the 21-year-old drinking age is not working, and the college presidents got what they wanted: a national debate about the drinking age. The Wine and Spirits Daily quotes the CBS article highlighting the Boulder, Colorado Police Chief Mark Beckner, who is used to dealing with underage drinkers in the college town. "The abuse of alcohol and the over-consumption of alcohol and DUI driving...are the areas we've got to focus our efforts. Not on chasing kids around trying to give them a ticket for having a cup of beer in their hand,"he said.
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| Planning and Housing in College Towns
Off-Campus Housing Could Affect On-Campus Living
GREENSBURG, PA - The Greensburg city council approved an ordinance that dealt with an attempt to govern student housing as reported by The Setonian. The anticipated restrictions consist of a requirement that homes occupied by college students be 500 feet apart. The 500-foot regulation is relevant throughout the borough of Greensburg, including the area outside the city's downtown area. One change would include a landlord using more than one unit on a property for students to live in, but the total number of students on that land can't surpass five.
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Clemson, SC
The International Town & Gown Association is a non-profit organization that brings together leaders from college and university campuses and communities. Member representatives include Mayors, Elected Officials, City Administrators, Police Chiefs, Planners, University/College Presidents, Business Officers, Student Affairs Officers, Campus Planners, Student Housing Staff, Off-campus student staff, Parking & Transportation Officials, Students, Neighborhood Officials, Private Housing Developers, and many others sharing a unified town-gown vision. The ITGA acts as a communication, education, consulting and training resource for decision makers of colleges and college communities in areas of shared resources, programs, planning and project opportunities while addressing existing and potential conflicts.
Sincerely,
Chip Boyles
Executive Director |
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