Community-University Partnerships: Invested in Michigan's Future

Michigan State University is part of a statewide event planned by Michigan's fifteen public universities and The Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan to showcase community-university partnerships that contribute to the well-being of all Michigan citizens. The program will be held on Tuesday, March 6, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Michigan State Capitol Rotunda in downtown Lansing.

The event is an opportunity for elected officials, policymakers, and Michigan residents to view posters and hear short presentations about exemplary community-university initiatives as well as dialogue and share information with higher education researchers, staff, and community partners.

Initiatives that contribute to local and regional economic, entrepreneurial, business, and workforce development for Michigan citizens will be featured in descriptions of academic partnerships and collaborations with small businesses, corporations, hospitals, schools, and communities in every part of the state.

Among the highlights:

• Evidence-based community-university partnerships that are transforming Michigan's economy
• Successful community-university partnerships that support and promote students' readiness for employment, and economic and workforce development
• Morning remarks by Douglas J. Smith, Senior Vice President for Strategic Partnerships at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and lunchtime presentations by Harvey Hollins, Director of the Michigan Office of Urban and Metropolitan Initiatives, and Dan Gilmartin, Executive Director and CEO of the Michigan Municipal League.

Hiram E. Fitzgerald, MSU Associate Provost for University Outreach and Engagement, provided an early leadership role in conceptualizing the March 6 event.

"At Michigan State University our scholarship focus applies to a broad range of community-defined needs, and we work side by side with citizens to discover innovative solutions to everyday challenges. This event is an opportunity for researchers and community partners to share what is happening in different Michigan localities, and discuss the breadth, depth, and scope of work that Michigan's public universities are contributing to our great state," says Fitzgerald.

The Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan plays an integral role in developing and proposing state higher education policy to better serve Michigan's citizens and the public good, and it serves as a forum for the presidents and chancellors of Michigan's fifteen public universities to discuss and frame positions on higher education policy issues.

Visit pcsum.org/MichigansFuture for more information.