Universities are being asked to prepare our students to navigate successfully in a complex and interconnected world and to contribute to the solution of difficult problems at work and in the communities where they live. Our universities must do the same. We must adapt our approaches to education, scholarship and community involvement in order to…

Argues that without the usual advantages of donor loyalty and institutional prestige, urban universities can make a case for support based on their regional and statewide impact and on the quality, cost effectiveness, and value of academic programs and research. Discusses why people give to urban universities; describes how Portland State…