Urban University Program (UUP)

URBAN UNIVERSITY PROGRAM

Mission Statement

The mission of the Ohio University Program is to apply the resources of urban universities to help identify urban challenges and facilitate solutions designed to enhance the vitality of Ohio and its metropolitan regions. This mission will be implemented through collabortive university networks and individual centers of excellence.

Goals

Address Ohio's urban problems and opportunities by supporting collaborative inter-institutional research and resource networks.
Meet the distinctive opportunities and challenges of each metropolitan region by cultivating and supporting linked centers of excellence on all eight urban university campuses
Develop information resources and intergrated databases to inform public policy decision-making and support joint research efforts in Ohio.
Propose and facilitate solutions by undertaking research, education and training, technical assistance and design services.
Combine the strengths of traditional unveristy research and teaching with the public service role of the engaged urban university.
Enhance the quality of urban life and institutions by building partnerships with community, state and national organizations.
Communicate findings of UUP-related activities to state and local policy makers, community leaders and citizens.

Priorities

In the coming biennium, the UUP will continue efforts to improve Ohio's urban communities through research, training, technical assistance, and outreach programs. Ohio's Urban universities will work together to strengthen existing programs, create new programs, research new ideas and communicate new findings to the community. Together we will strive to accomphlish the following:

Continue to build Centers of Excellence.
Provide research and technical assistance for local governments, decision makers, and citizens to help revitalize Ohio's urban communities.
Develop new methods of sharing information and utilizing technology to propose solutions to urban problems, as well as expand existing methods such as the Geographical Information System.
Invest in and strengthen the collabortive, inter-institutional research and service networks.
Support community organizations such as neighborhood groups, schools, and Chambers of Commerce as they work to improve the lives of urban residents.
Explore potential linkages withthe urban outreach efforts of Ohio's cooperative extension program.
Create an evaluation plan that will enable us to gain a better understanding of how UUP impacts the lives of those in Ohio's urban areas.
Develop a strategy to communicate findings of UUP-related activities.
Continue to develop the capacity of member institutions to address the mission and goals of the UUP.