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Report: “University-Community Partnerships: 2006 Worcester Speaker Series”

This discussion paper, prepared by Marga, Inc., describes Worcester’s partnerships and suggests future directions that can serve as a model to other cities. Download discussion paper.

“Beyond campus borders,” Boston Globe op-ed, 3/24/07

By Robert Forrant, professor in the Department of Regional Economic and Social Development at the University of Massachusetts Lowell: “These days there is a lot of discussion about how the Commonwealth is losing its young, educated population. There is also talk about whether and how universities should extend themselves into their surrounding communities and involve students in activities designed to apply new knowledge to solving social, health, and economic problems...” Read more

“College Town Hall,” Boston Globe editorial (fourth part in series), 11/29/06

“Like a scientist collecting field samples, Northeastern University president Joseph Aoun passed among the top city officials awaiting the returns in Boston Mayor Thomas Menino's office on election night. Aoun didn't want to overlook anything that might help his mission. And after just six months on the job, it is clear that the new president's mission is to weave the university more deeply into the life of the city...” Read more

“Students lead the way on active citizenship,” Boston Globe op-ed, 11/29/06

By Rob Hollister, dean of the Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service at Tufts University: “A key message from Deval Patrick's gubernatorial victory is that the people of Massachusetts want to be more than voters; we want to be active citizens. We want to work together to build healthy communities and to solve shared public problems...”
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"Campus partners for better communities,” Boston Globe op-ed, 11/18/06

By NERCHE director John Saltmarsh and Armand Carriere, executive director of Worcester UniverCity Partnership: “What can colleges and universities do to improve communities across the Commonwealth? A campus-community partnership in Worcester could be a catalyst for creative public policy that encourages community engagement as a core mission of higher education...” Read more

“Colleges as city builders,” Boston Globe editorial (third part in series), 11/16/06

“Boston’s colleges and universities are no longer limited to shaping young minds. They are also molding their host city. The imperative to "grow or die" is strong on campus, stronger at times than both City Hall and Boston's muscular neighborhood groups.” Read more

“A college try for Boston,” Boston Globe editorial (second part in series), 11/7/06

“Boston Mayor Thomas Menino doesn't spend time poring over "Dissertation Abstracts," but he usually has some bright ideas about what Boston needs, and he is convinced that universities aren't giving enough thought to their host city. Last summer he corralled five college presidents and emerged with a $10 million commitment toward building campus partnerships with 10 struggling public schools. Properly done, it could be just the kind of "community-engaged scholarship" the city has been waiting for, especially if it draws on nursing and social work schools in addition to education departments.” Read more

“Big plan on campus,” Boston Globe editorial (first part in series), 11/6/06

“Participants in a sweeping seminar on town-gown relations sponsored by the Boston Foundation in 2003 predicted that colleges and universities would take up the mantle of leadership lost by many local corporations after a spate of mergers. Rancor over past institutional expansion would fade. Academics would work for social progress in the neighborhoods, while activists embraced the colleges as engines of economic
development. At hand was nothing less than "twin paradigm shifts," as former Northeastern University president Richard Freeland put it....Not so fast.” Read more