Campus-Community Connections: Message from ITGA President Emily Allen

Campus-Community Connections

The official newsletter of the International Town & Gown Association™ August 31, 2020

Watercooler Chats and the ITGA Family

I hope this message finds each of you and your loved ones safe and healthy!

I miss the office – more specifically, I miss the spontaneous watercooler chats. The opportunity to shoot the breeze and catch up on the mundane aspects of coworkers lives. I miss the comradery and occasions to vent and feel in community with those who were living and breathing the very same work frustrations I was managing. To find immediate support from those who understood best, who would instantaneously celebrate any small wins and successes experienced. To be in community with others is a gift, and I deeply miss the frequency I once had.

It is what we hear the most about when asking people how they feel about ITGA. Smiles grow wider as you watch someone reminisce about conferences past and being in community with those who “just get it.” How ITGA provides such a unique conference experience where global colleagues become family. We have been thinking long and hard about how to recreate this feeling – to breathe a little more life back into our virtual ones by creating more frequent opportunities to connect.

And while we don’t have it figured out just quite yet – I’m writing to share that we are actively developing a “Watercooler Series.” We think it will look like monthly meet-ups for those who do similar work, to be able to vent…and share…and celebrate on the regular. How does this sound to you? Perhaps you have ideas and needs you would like to share. Any and all are welcome to help us get this initiative off the ground – please email me if you would like to help at Emily.Allen@colostate.edu.

We look forward to your active participation in the ITGA Watercooler Series and please know there continues to be more ways to connect and learn through ITGA:

TOMORROW, September 1, is the last day to register for "Racial Equity And Leadership in Town-Gown Relations” with NLC REAL Director Leon Andrews, taking place on Sept. 9^th and 10^th. Register today!

Courageous Conversations-Save the Date: Wednesday, Sept. 16th/Nov. 11, 12:00-1:00pm (EDT): "Now, hear my point of view": College student experiences during the Coronavirus pandemic." See info below for more details.

Thank you for your commitment to ITGA and for your commitment to the communities you love and are invested in!

In community,

Emily Allen

ITGA's Upcoming Courageous Conversation

"Now, hear my point of view": College student experiences during the Coronavirus pandemic. This is a 2-part series. Save the dates: Wed. Sept 16th & Nov. 11th.

University and college students across the US did not have the spring semester they expected, and the fall semester does not appear to be any better. While most campuses spent the summer planning for some semblance of face-to-face instruction, the increases in positive COVID-19 cases in college communities resulted in institutions reverting back to fully online instruction. Unfortunately, most of what is heard revolves around the financial and operational impacts on the institutions of higher education, but rarely do hear from the students themselves.

From the loss of athletics to the loss of study abroad opportunities and extracurricular experiences, there is no doubt the coronavirus pandemic has changed the way students live and learn. This 2-part courageous conversation will highlight the voices of students. It will begin with a conversation about the students’ experiences from March to Fall semester. Near the end of fall semester, these students will continue their courageous conversations and provide insight into their experiences, challenges, and lessons learned. Submit inquiries to Beth@itga.org.

COVID-19 and Town-Gown Relations

"College Reopenings Test Town-and-Gown Relations" The Hill; "College Campuses Offer Opportunity to Demonstrate COVID Containment Strategies" Planetizen; "The Rise of 'Off-Off-Off-Campus Housing'" USA News Daily; "Small Nova Scotia University Towns Grapple with Big COVID-19 Concerns." CBC; "College-towns Businesses Struggle Without Students" USA Today; "Higher Ed's Hottest Hot Spot?" Inside Higher Ed.

Join us on Social Media

A growing and impressive group of professionals from campus communities continue to network and share strategies for improving town-gown relations. Join us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.