|
Featured College Town
|
Visit Our Town |
4th Annual Best Practices in Building University/City Relations Conference
Teaming Across Campus and Community
June 1-4th, 2009
Visit Our Sponsor |
| Member Links |
|
GENERAL MEMBERS
| |
 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. Explore membership opportunities at www.town-gown.net to help keep these communication channels open to all. |
|
Town & Gown Leadership
Town - Gown Symposium Engages Students and City in Exploring City Issues
ROCKY MOUNT, NC - The Rocky Mount Telegram reports on the first annual Student Speakers Symposium held at N.C. Wesleyan College. Representatives from the City of Rocky Mount, the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce and the N.C. General Assembly served as judges for the forum entitled "Rocky Mount Topics Engaged". "This is the culmination of a year-long plan of activity that began last June with Mayor David Combs," explained Dr. Jon Wiggs, the college's director of institutional research. "David responded to a memo that outlined a potential for mutual cooperation, he passed it along through channels, and Dr. Cameron Matthews and Dr. Molly Weise followed up with meetings in city hall. It took a lot of trust and reciprocity to make this happen." "This was a great 'town-n-gown' opportunity for us all," Chamber CEO Eddie Baysden said."Each presenter had his or her unique attributes, whether from research or composure or subject knowledge. I was very impressed with the effort and commitment each student made for this program." Jonathan Boone, City Public Works Director, agreed, saying, "I see a bright future for a joint venture between NCWC and the City of Rocky Mount to explore challenges and opportunities that face our community while simultaneously injecting real world experience into the student curriculum."
Kutztown University Students Offer Hand-Woven Tartan to Kutztown Borough
KUTZTOWN, PA - The Reading Eagle writes an article on Kutztown University students creating and presenting a hand-woven tartan swatch to the Mayor of Kutztown. The tartan swatch was created with the colors of blue and white for the Kutztown School District's colors, with maroon and gold for KU,and with green for the area's abundant farmland. School officials symbolized the tartan swatch gift as "weaving two communities together, a symbol of relationship."
Texas State University Student Government Hopefuls Speak On Town-Gown RelationsSAN MARCOS, TX - The Newstreamz, San Marcos reported on a forum for candidates for the Associated Student Government of Texas State where candidates made remarks and fielded questions from the audience along with elected officials and staff from the City of San Marcos. Discussion topics included a proposed noise ordinance revision and the ASG External Affairs Committee.
Students Help Community Then Leave Ahead of Flood Waters FARGO, N.D. - A newspaper for the University of Minnesota, the MN Daily, writes about students staying to help the Fargo, ND community with sand bag filling and placement before leaving the expected floods. Student assistance became essential in fortifying the cities against the flooding Red River. Local students as well as students from nearby college towns worked with towns people to shore river banks against the flood waters.
Town and Gown Breaking BarriersEGHAM, UK - The Staines Guardian, UK news reports that area high school and university students in the United Kingdom college town of Egham are working together to break down barriers between the two groups and between the university and the town . Students at Royal Holloway University in Egham and the charity organisation East To West have formed a Youth Befriending Team (YBT) to work with at-risk high school teenagers. |
College and Town Dispute $147,000 Tax Bill BRUNO, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA- An article in The Star Phoenix reveals the Town of Bruno's dispute with the Ursuline Adademy over a change in property taxes that supposedly removes a former tax exemption held by a Catholic Girl's School leaving a $147,000 current tax owed by the new owners, the Ursuline Academy. |
Planning and Housing
Editorial: Treat UVM Students Like Responsible Adults
BURLINGTON, VT - An editorial in the Burlington Free Press provides insight into Burlington's attempts to keep University of Vermont students on campus to free up housing for other city residents. The editors believe that this comes across as totally unrealistic considering the current state of the economy and decreasing state funds. In relation to students living off-campus, the editors add, "if we expect students to act like responsible adults and a member of the community, the first step is to treat them as such."
Davidson, NC - The Un-CharlotteDAVIDSON, NC - The college town of Davidson is undertaking a comprehensive plan update and is clearly looking to define itself as a culturally different community than its nearby neighbor, Charlotte. The Charlotte Observer notes that Davidson has been quite successful with its current land use plan and therefore will be addressing a number of new areas to make it even better.
Boston Looks Into The Future for College Town ArchitectureBOSTON, MA - Robert Campbell writes for the Boston Globe about future changes possible for Boston's landscape in 10 or 20 years. Certain urban designers point to worldly problems being solved by cities like Boston. Other experts, like Richard Florida, point to the growing of the "Creative Class", dominant in college communities. The writer brings these global ideas to offer what the future has in store for Boston. |
| Parking and Transportation
North Carolina Research Triangle Residents Are Positive on Sales Tax Hike for Transit
DURHAM, NC - The Triangle Business Journal discusses a new study by the Regional Transportation Alliance that finds residents of Wake, Durham and Orange counties might be willing to support an increase in the sales tax to pay for new or expanded public transportation, though ridership fees and impact fees might have to go up to make such a plan politically successful. The study shows that, while higher property taxes to pay for public transportation are deeply unpopular locally, a sales tax increase might be more palatable. |
| Alcohol, Enforcement & Safety
Anderson University Looks at Alcohol PolicyANDERSON, IN - According to an Anderson University Press Release , Anderson University president and administrators from the Department of Student Life participated in a discussion forum with students to provide information about a long-held campus policy regarding the consumption of alcohol. The president shared with the students how policy decisions are developed and evaluated. The president indicated that Anderson University's current policy is rooted in the school's historical ties to its sponsoring church. Policies include:The purchase, possession, or use of alcohol or illegal drugs by any student on or off campus is prohibited. Individuals who drink alcoholic beverages off campus and return to campus will be subject to disciplinary action. Alcoholic beverage containers found in rooms, automobiles, etc., will be considered as evidence of drinking by the occupants. Alcoholic beverage containers, posters, and other items advertising alcoholic beverages are not permitted. Students annually receive a copy of the university policy on drugs and alcohol from the Department of Student Life. Supporting rationale for Anderson University's current policy is one of campus safety. The president indicated that the number one problem on college campuses across the country (secular or faith-based) is alcohol abuse.
Fire safety: Off and On-CampusWALTHAM, MA - The Brandeis Hoot news reports on a renewed commitment of Brandeis University of educating students about the dangers of tampering with fire safety equipment or being careless in the residence halls and apartments about fire safety matters. As part of the ongoing effort to increase fire safety awareness on campus, the Waltham Fire Department will exhibit a fire safety trailer on campus. The event comes after a surprise inspection of residence halls three months ago found an alarming number of covered smoke detectors, one of the main concerns in preventing fires. Town fire officials hope to partner again with Brandeis University and Bentley College for future fire safety awareness programs for incoming students and their parents. |
| Economic Development
Incubators As Tools for Economic Development
MOUNT PLEASANT, MI - University Business magazine reports from Central Michigan on the use of University-Community Business Incubators by Central Michigan University to build on the alliances of local industry and position the university as a center for the incubation of Economic Development. The CMU Research Corporation provides a single point of contact for entrepreneurs and businesses that see the potential of harnessing the university's intellectual, material, and technological resources. The incubation system is an answer for a 2008 Small Business Association report promoting commercialization and entrepreneurship programs at Michigan higher education institutions and identifying five categories of commercialization and entrepreneurship initiatives for promoting economic development: (1) technology transfer, (2) incubators, (3) university-industry commercialization programs, (4) entrepreneurship education, and (5) economic development and outreach.
Kent State University Expanding into Downtown Kent with Offices and Student-run Retail
KENT, OHIO - A Record-Courier reporter writes about Kent State University planning to occupy about 6,000 square feet of office and retail space in the $6.5 million Phoenix Project redevelopment under way on East Main Street. Offices and student-run retail operations are set to open in the summer and fall, just as the university starts celebrating its 2010 bicentennial. The Phoenix Project space marks the university's first physical presence downtown with one goal of attracting students to the downtown area. Students are submitting proposals to determine what businesses should be. Expanding into downtown is a part of KSU President Lester Lefton's endeavor to improve the university's status in the region. | |
|
|
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 |
|
|
