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Certificate Program Course Modules
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| Introduction to Town-Gown 101 – Boot Camp | This introductory module outlines the key issues and the nature of the challenges and opportunities that exist in communities that have a college or university present. It highlights methods of practice that will assist stakeholders in devising collaborative strategies for engaging community members, university faculty and students in addressing shared issues—including the social, cultural, physical and economic impacts of town-gown relations. This module represents a “stepping stone” to support the effective management and integration of best practices in town-gown relations. Participants will learn the steps necessary to create collaborative strategic plans with key stakeholders in the community in order to assure the strongest collective impact. Case studies will be used to provide participants with a wide range of best practices from across North America. ITGA Executive Director Kim Griffo and Colleen Campbell Bozard co-teach this module.
To download syllabus, click on the view button and scroll down to the bottom of the page.
Suggested Readings Prior to Session:
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Wei-Skillern, Jane & Marciano, Sonia. The Networked Nonprofit. Stanford Social Innovation Review, Spring 2008.
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Kania, John & Kramer, Mark. Collective Impact. Stanford Social Innovation Review, Winter 2011.
| Week 1 |
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| Government Relations in Town-Gown Communities | All government entities—federal, state and local—play a major part in all town-gown relations. However, it is the local government that often has the most immediate impact with the fewest legislative and policy options available to them in dealing with the complexities of town-gown relations. This module provides a framework local communities can use to work constructively with all stakeholders in the government, city and university sectors. Specific case studies are explored to assist in helping develop positive and sustainable town-gown relations. David Lossing teaches this module.
To download syllabus, click on the view buttom and scroll down to the bottom of the page.
Assigned Reading:
Bridging 'Town and Gown' Through Innovative University-Communitiy Partnerships, by Martin, Smith and Phillips
| Week 2 |
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| Preparing for the Future (Instead of the Past): Integrating Town and Gown Transportation Planning | “We haven’t the money, so we’ve got to think.” -- Sir Ernest Rutherford
For much of the 20th century, transportation planning was supply-oriented, focusing on building infrastructure to meet the steadily growing demand for travel by automobile. Much of this growth resulted from large-scale socio-economic trends and technological advances whose influences are already being supplanted by a new set of transformative shifts that will shape travel behavior well into the 21st century. While these new trends are still unfolding, several significant shifts are becoming obvious:
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Historic increases in per capita vehicle miles traveled are leveling off, and may even be decreasing. Young people are driving less, getting drivers licenses later, and buying fewer cars than previous generations. This appears to due to a combination of persistent economic and societal factors. Earlier travel demand forecasts may need to be revisited.
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The majority of our roadway infrastructure is already in place. Only the largest of projects can have more than a marginal impact on automobile mobility; project costs (both financial and environmental) continue to grow, while relative benefits diminish. Planning is focusing more on increasing operational efficiency, and on reducing or managing demand.
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Traditional funding sources for transportation infrastructure projects do not appear adequate in the long term for new construction and backlogged maintenance. Greater consideration is being given to user fees and public-private financing.
One implication of these changes is increased incentive for partnering in support of desired transportation priorities. As competition increases for shrinking funds, projects with broad support, a diversity of benefits, low implementation thresholds, and access to multiple funding sources possess distinct advantages , especially during periods of such uncertainty.
It also appears that “silver bullet” solutions are becoming even more unlikely. Just as we have witnessed the disaggregation of major media outlets, travel markets are becoming more fragmented, with a greater range of available choices, and an increase in real-time information for decision-making. A much more holistic and strategic approach to planning is required, recognizing that most people rarely consider the boundary between town and gown in making their travel decisions, and that the impacts of these decisions have even less respect for such artificial borders. Don Bryson, PE & Than Austin coteach this moule.
Purpose: This module will help participants recognize the significant changes that will continue to affect travel behaviors, to understand the resulting challenges and opportunities in the arena of transportation planning, and to identify potential collaborative “town-gown” solutions.
To download the syllabus, click on the view button and scroll down to the bottom of the page.
Suggested Reading Prior to Session:
Nancy McGuckin, Summary of Travel Trends 1969-2009
http://www.travelbehavior.us/Nancy-pdfs/Summary%20of%20Travel%20Trends%201969%20to%202009.pdf
From author website: http://www.travelbehavior.us/
To view additional suggested readings, click here. | Week 3 |
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| Alcohol-Beer School 101 | According to a 2010 report by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), drinking by college students aged 18-24 contributes to an estimated 1,825 student deaths, 599,000 injuries, and 97,000 cases of sexual assault or date rape each year. This module provides a comprehensive overview of the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders in the town and gown relationship. College and town administrators, police, faculty, staff, businessmen, citizens, and students can each take steps to create a safe and positive campus and town environment. Stakeholders can take action to improve the campus, downtown, and neighborhoods, eliminate alcohol-related negative outcomes and actions, and improve the wellbeing of both students and local residents. Dr. Steven W. Clarke and Kim Kirk co-teach this module.
To download syllabus, click on the view button and scroll down to the bottom of the page.
Recommended Reading:
| Week 4 |
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| Building Community through Entrepreneurship on and off Campus |
The power of economic expansion and stability cannot be stressed enough in its ability to unite campus with town, and students with residents. Entrepreneurship is a leading force in Blacksburg, Virginia where it has proven to be invaluable in helping to build lasting bonds between talented students, community businesses, and campus institutions. In this module, we will examine how campuses and towns can use entrepreneurship to retain highly skilled talent, promote employment, and build a vibrant business culture. Students will examine the case study of Virginia Tech and Blacksburg, gain the perspective of a student entrepreneur, and learn how to build their own entrepreneurship community. Braden Croy teaches this module.
To download the syllabus, click on the view button and scroll down to the bottom of the page. | Week 4 |
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| Building a Strong City/University Partnership | Cities where university students comprise a significant percent of the population face special issues. Quality of life issues like noise, over occupancy, parking, excessive littering, and alcohol use may create friction between university and city management, as well as student renters and permanent community members. This module will describe how the city of Boulder and the University of Colorado-Boulder have addressed quality of life issues through changes in city ordinances and in judicial process. The module will review programs both the city and the university have developed to give students a better understanding about the responsibilities of living off campus and becoming community members. Examples include: Restorative justice, community living classes, party registration, move-in workshops, walkabouts, lease disclosure and six-day reviews. The module will also discuss efforts to create a residential service district, as well as work on discovering and minimizing the impact of student alcohol use on the community. Susan Stafford and Jennifer Korbelik co-teach this module.
To download syllabus, click on the view button and scroll down to the bottom of the page.
Suggested Reading Prior to Session:
Community: The Structure of Belonging by Peter Block (Book)
| Week 5 |
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| Sustainability Initiatives as a Bridge Between Campus, Community and City | Colleges and universities have an increasingly significant role in promoting a just and sustainable future for society. Given the scope of its activities and impacts, the higher education sector is uniquely positioned to lead in addressing an array of social, environmental, and economic challenges at the local and regional level. Many of these “place-based” sustainability challenges are inherently shared by both universities as well as the communities and cities in which they are located. This module will introduce basic concepts in sustainability and discuss a range of different strategies currently being deployed by institutions around the country to bridge campus, community, and city. The instructor will also provide field-tested insights on a range of sustainability projects underway at the University of the District of Columbia. Josh Lasky teaches this module.
Suggested Readings Prior to Session:
Achenbach, Joel. “Spaceship Earth: A new view of environmentalism.” The Washington Post, 2 January 2012. Available here.
Makower, Joel. “College campuses' climate lessons for companies.” GreenBiz.com, 2 July 2012. Available here.
| Week 5 |
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| University, Faculty and Student Engagement in Town-Gown Relations | Colleges and universities are in the midst of major transformations that will redefine relationships with the broader community. This module focuses on the important role that universities/colleges, student governments and faculty play in the research and scholarship of engaging community partners for revitalization of community to repair or strengthen the town-gown relations. This module covers the changing nature of the teaching and learning function within the university or college, and the important role that student governments and members of faculty and staff can play in building and maintaining a healthy partnership with local residents, institutions and civic leaders. Case studies highlighting successful partnerships in community-based teaching and research; the social, economic, and research potential of the “studentification” process; and the changing nature of the university-community relationships around the world will be a part of the curriculum. Dr. Michael Fox will be teaching this module.
To download syllabus, click on the view button and scroll down to the bottom of the page.
Suggested Readings Prior to Session:
Briding 'Town and Gown' Through Innovative University-Commuynity Partnerships by Martin, Smith and Phillips
Near-Campus Relations and the Growth of the Town and Gown Movement in Canada by Michael Fox
Town & Gown Relations in the 21st Century Checklist for Town and Gown Stakeholders by Fox and Smith
| Week 6 |
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| Taxation and Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTs) | As cities and towns attempt to patch budget holes caused by shrinking state support and falling tax revenues, several municipalities have started a new round of campaigns targeting property tax-exempt colleges and other nonprofits, demanding that these institutions pay their “fair share” for local services. These are called payments in lieu of taxes, or PILOTs. This module covers how both universities and cities can take advantage of the economic power colleges bring to a community. It also objectively discusses PILOTs and how they could help or hurt town-gown relations. Sally Weinbrom Kram teaches this module.
To download syllabus, click on the view button and scroll down to the bottom of the page.
Recommended Text:
“Payments in Lieu of Taxes: Balancing Municipal and Nonprofit Interests,” Daphne A. Kenyon and Adam H. Langley, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.
The report is available either
By calling the distributor for the Lincoln Land Institute at 877-526-3257;
By ordering the report online at Lincolninst.edu; or
By mailing your request to: Lincoln Institute In Care of
PSSC
46 Development Road
Fitchburg, MA 10420
The report costs $15, plus shipping costs ($4.00 ground mail; $6.50 expedited mail service).
| Week 6 |
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