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Campus-Community Connections
The official newsletter of the International Town & Gown Association™ February 1, 2021
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Why Howard University is Joining COVID Vaccine Trial |
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Washington, DC: Gaithersburg biotech Novavax Inc. is getting support for its Covid-19 vaccine program from another local organization: Howard University. The D.C. academic institution and medical center has signed on as a clinical trial site for the company’s late-stage study of its coronavirus vaccine candidate. The school had made its interest known to the companies initiating vaccine research, alongside the country’s three other historically Black medical schools, said Dr. Hugh Mighty, dean of the Howard University College of Medicine and vice president of clinical affairs for Howard University Hospital. “This virus is disproportionately killing people of color,” Mighty said in an interview, “so it is vital that we get involved in understanding how this whole thing works and to be a part of the solution.” Washington Business Journal
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Students Plea to End 'Unfair' Rental Contracts |
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Northern Ireland, UK: Students in Northern Ireland are calling to be released from rent contracts early after their courses switched to online teaching as some students in private accommodation are being charged for rooms they cannot live in due to the lockdown, writes Emily McGarvey for BBC News. The National Union of Students in Northern Ireland has advised students who returned home over the winter break not to return to their term-time accommodation until on-campus teaching is scheduled to resume. Face-to-face teaching has been suspended for most courses, apart from some subjects where it is regarded as necessary. While university accommodation providers have granted rent breaks, students renting in the private sector “have been left completely on our own during this pandemic,” according to Bethany Moore, a law student at Queen’s who has a contract with a private landlord until August. University World News
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Call for Proposals for the Virtual ITGA Conference |
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Marquette University is excited to partner with the City of Milwaukee and the International Town & Gown Association (ITGA) to host the 2021 Virtual Conference, “Innovating for Tomorrow, Together” from May 24-26, 2021. Please consider sharing this link to the Call for Proposals, with your network, and encouraging their participation. The virtual environment will provide a dynamic, international platform for the efforts they are advancing in collaboration with partners throughout their communities. Questions? Contact Beth@ITGA.org.
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NEW Board Member Highlight: Meet Janet Lillie |
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Janet Lillie, MA, Ph.D., Michigan State University
A past president of the ITGA board, Dr. Janet Lillie brings two decades of experience in town-gown conversations and solutions as well as substantial experience on the academic side, “which adds a unique perspective,” she says. Janet was associate dean of undergraduate education at MSU in Lansing, Michigan, for 14 years before becoming assistant vice president for community relations in 2014. Her graduate degrees in communication also have yielded substantial research skills, which she utilizes in “ITGA Data Digest” focus groups and presentations. Janet appreciates the organization’s “vast network of dedicated colleagues” who share their successes and “fail forwards,” a clue to how she approaches her life and work. COVID-related financial issues and recruiting and retaining members are the board’s biggest priorities this year, Janet says. To contact Janet, click here.
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Early Bird Virtual Conference Registration Extended |
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The virtual ITGA City & University Relations Conference is May 24-26. Due to member requests and the hardships that many of you are experiencing, we have extended this special rate to Friday, February 12. To register, click here. To learn more about the conference, visit www.itga.org.
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Students Lend Expertise in Partnership with Town |
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Town of Normal, IL: Illinois State University’s College of Business are applying their knowledge to help small businesses. The Town of Normal recently awarded $450,000 in grants to Normal businesses as part of the Small Business Relief Program to assist with COVID-19 impacts. Businesses could request grants for operational assistance, digital and marketing support, and modifications to buildings. The Town of Normal worked with ISU’s College of Business to pair students looking for real-world experience with businesses needing additional digital and marketing support. “This was a win-win,” said Dr. Aaron Charlton, an assistant professor of marketing at Illinois State. “Our students consulted with interested businesses to identify how best they could help. They identified several opportunities to improve search engine optimization, increase online visibility, improve digital transactions, and enhance social media marketing.” Illinois State University
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University Helps in State-Led Effort to Vaccinate |
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Stony Brook, NY: Stony Brook is six weeks into a state-led effort to vaccinate as many New Yorkers as possible. So far they’ve vaccinated more than 10,000 people. It’s one of several universities across the country helping their states inoculate people from Covid-19. The effort is precarious. Each week can bring new allotments of the vaccine, new guidelines about who qualifies, and, in the case of last week, a new White House with new priorities. The Biden administration has promised to ramp up the effort to vaccinate Americans and has asked universities to help. Last week, the new president called on colleges to “increase vaccine awareness, reduce hesitancy, and ensure that students, faculty, and staff know when they are eligible to get the vaccine, and where to get it.” The Chronicle of Higher Education
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Welcome New & Renewing Members |
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Boston College, MA; City of Ames, IA; City of Athens, OH; City of Bowling Green & Bowling Green State University, KY; City of Boulder, CO; City of Clemson & Clemson University, SC; City of Pittsburg, KS; PUMA; Gonzaga University, WA; Regis University, CO; State College & Pennsylvania State University, PA; Village of Brockport & College at Brockport SUNY, NY: Virginia Tech, VA. Interested in joining ITGA? Contact Susan@ITGA.org and ask about our new membership rate.
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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.
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