Describes how the University of Pennsylvania embraced the idea that urban institutions have an obligation to help sustain their surrounding communities. Penn's investment of intellectual, financial, and social capital not only created a more vibrant West Philadelphia, but also strengthened town-gown bonds and revived a spirit of activism on…

Presents two case studies of higher education institutions undergoing change to illustrate how institutional culture affects the change process. Introduces the mobile model of change that guides transformation efforts in urban institutions while remaining sensitive to their institutional context and culture. The framework is based on a five-year…

Segmentation is a marketing concept that can be applied in a post-secondary context. This article delineates the outcome of applying a learner-needs segmentation that resulted in significantly improved learner satisfaction scores in a professional faculty at a large public university. Our original work described the purpose and value of…

Describes how the University of Arkansas helped the cities of Little Rock and North Little Rock to resolve a difficult and longstanding conflict over water rates and the provision of drinking water. (EV)

Recently, many urban public universities have seen a drastic increase in competition. This project integrates Schumpeter's economic theories from 70 years ago with current strategic management theory in order to provide a framework for strategic response to that competition. This article explores all possible combinations of the high-low quality…

This paper begins with the observation that, for a variety of social, political, and economic reasons, many universities are beginning to rethink the nature of their relations with local communities and asks about the place of Faculties of Education in such processes of reconsideration. It describes recent initiatives at York University as…

The City University of New York is taking a new, local approach to online instruction: offering an online baccalaureate for degree completers, designed for NYC students who have "stopped out" in good academic standing and need the "any time" flexibility of asynchronous learning to finish the degree. What is especially…

Describes a series of innovative research and development centers established at Boise State University to link the institution's academic work to critical issues in the region. Discusses the strategies guiding their development. (EV)

Explores how California State University Dominguez Hills implemented strategies to help both the campus and the community respond to the challenges arising from a demographic shift away from African Americans and toward Hispanics/Latinos. (EV)

Traces the uses of the "urban mission" trope both nationally and locally as it pertains to the history of the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Educational Assistance Program. Maintains that educational histories are important because they explain how political dynamics determine who will be basic writers and how many will appear…

Describes the "Implementing Urban Missions" grant program, sponsored by the Council of Independent Colleges, and the eight recipients. Explores the historical context of the private college urban mission and common experiences across the institutions in fulfilling their urban missions. Provides overviews of the articles in the journal…

Describes how the University of Washington, Tacoma, a 10-year-old urban university, has turned community relations into its biggest asset and a key part of its academic success. Discusses community relations strategies for fund raising, facility development, and legislative advocacy. (EV)

This program was designed to help security personnel relate to students and the university community in an urban setting. Workshops enhanced the working relationship between security and student life offices. The program is outlined and further suggestions are presented. (Author/BEF)

Asserting that exploration of the role of higher education in community building is not unique to the United States, describes examples of collaborative efforts involving universities and communities working together in the United States, Switzerland, Northern Ireland, and Mexico. (EV)

Details the University of Cincinnati's campus master plan, designed to overcome deans'"fiefdoms" and make the best use of the limited remaining open space. Three imperatives shaped the plan: siting new buildings to infill the campus fabric rather than taking open space, siting buildings to shape outdoor spaces, and weaving open spaces as…