The ITGA Annual Conference 

Transforming Communities is the theme of the 2016 ITGA conference, hosted by Loyola University Chicago and the City of Chicago. The Program Committee is seeking proposals focusing on city/town-university partnerships intended to transform communities into high standards of livability and encouraging them to thrive through investments, entrepreneurialism, pro-gram implementation, research and policy development. Universities often serve as anchors and economic drivers in their respective communities, though not always recognized, they partner with government, public schools, nonprofits, and community stakeholders to achieve mutual goals. This conference will look in-depth at these partnerships, how they are structured, and measurable outcomes to be studied and replicated in campus communities across the US and abroad. To learn more, click here. 

Ithaca Journal, by Gary Stewart

Pursuant to the Cornell University bylaws, the board of trustees is vested with "supreme control" over the university, including all of its colleges and units. Within this complex, important leadership mix are dozens of individuals, ranging from ex-officio members, including New York's governor, to trustees who are elected by Cornell's trustees, alumni, staff, faculty, and students. Layered under all of this are several working committees that oversee and advise on the University's widespread interests, from Tompkins County to New York City and beyond. The former is the specific focus of the Trustee- Community Communications Committee (TCCC), an information-sharing resource that is currently chaired by local businessman and University alum Ezra Cornell. The most recent TCCC meeting was focused on a variety of local transportation-related topics. The goal of having superb means of transportation to, from and within our community is of vital importance to all of our citizens, local businesses, and to Cornell University. 

Mississippi State University, by Jim Laird

Campus and community came together to celebrate the completion of a $40-million economic development pro-ject in "Mississippi's College Town." The morning cere-mony in The Mill's ballroom was the culmination of a multi-year, collaborative effort by public and private stakeholders to preserve the best of the National Register of Historic Places-listed mill while creating new economic opportunities. Mississippi's State's chief executive thanked local, state and federal officials for their commitment to the project, including Gov. Phil Bryant, Congressman Gregg Harper and Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman, who participated in the program. Building tenants, including MSU's National Strategic Planning and Analysis Research Center, began moving into The Mill in August this year, and the conference center has hosted events since then. In addition to the tri-level, 450 space parking garage, the 10.89-acre site features office space and a conference center.  

Municipal World, by Michael Fox

There have been several recent articles published in Municipal World that highlight the important economic, social, and physical ups and downs that occur between cities and towns and the colleges and universities located within their boundaries. The so-called "town and gown" relationship is a difficult one to measure, and there is a scarcity of both quantitative and qualitative measures devoted to understanding the relative health of these important relationships. At the recent meeting of the ITGA in Washington, DC, one presentation in particular highlighted a potential game-changer on this issue, through the introduction of the Optimal College Town Assessment by Dr. Stephen Gavazzi of Ohio State University. Before introducing his measurement tool for addressing town and gown issues, Gavazzi outlined a typology for categorizing town and gown relationships that works in ways similar to the various types of marriages and family relationships.  

A growing and impressive group of professionals from campus communities across the globe continue to network and share strategies for improving town and gown relations. Join us on Twitter and LinkedIn.  

The ITGA strengthens Town and Gown partnerships by providing a network of professionals and resources, identifying and sharing leading practices, innovative solutions and professional development opportunities for municipality and university communities.