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Campus-Community Connections
The official newsletter of the International Town & Gown Association™ January 11, 2021
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Leaders React in Shock After Mob Breaks into Capitol |
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - A mob of violent protesters made its way into the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, forcing police to evacuate lawmakers and delaying the constitutional process to affirm Joe Biden's victory in the November election. Vice President Joe Biden: "To storm the Capitol, to smash windows, to occupy offices, and to threaten the safety of duly elected officials is not protest. It is insurrection. The world is watching - and like so many other Americans, I am shocked and saddened that our nation, so long a beacon of light, hope and democracy, has come to such a dark moment." Former President George W. Bush: "Laura and I are watching the scenes of mayhem unfolding at the seat of our Nation's government in disbelief and dismay. It is a sickening and heartbreaking sight. This is how election results are disputed in a banana republic - not our democratic republic..." ABC News
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State of the ITGA Address and Upcoming Webinar |
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Enjoy this recording of the "State of the ITGA Address" and meet members of the Board. We discuss sponsorship opportunities, new membership rates and you will hear from Committee Chairs on ways you can get involved with ITGA in 2021. Click here to access the PowerPoint.
SAVE THE DATE: January 27, noon-1:00pm (EST). We will launch the Town-Gown Turn Around Series Wednesday, January 27. In 2020 the extreme health risks caused by COVID-19 forced Colleges and Universities to send students, faculty and staff home, close campuses and cancel nearly all institution sponsored community activities (except football). How to rebuild these communities and revive the local economy is a unique Town-Gown challenge that will require partnership, teamwork and creative solutions. The Town Gown Turn Around series will focus on strengthening the partnerships between town and university stakeholders. This webinar will focus on how developments and partnerships can turn around business districts and downtown areas, increase retail sales, extend campus life boundaries and make positive impacts in the communities they represent. To register, click here.
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NEW Board Member Highlight: Meet Julie Katsel |
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Julie Katsel, MS, University of Arizona
New ITGA board member Julie Katsel understands firsthand the importance of town-gown relations. As senior director of local government and community relations at the University of Arizona, Julie notes that her university is the largest employer and a “significant economic development driver” in the city of Tucson, home to more than 500,000 people. “ITGA helps me learn how to better leverage the university for the benefit of all Arizonans,” she says. Federal, tribal and state government issues are among the responsibilities of the office in which she serves, but Julie has a local, community-based focus, serving as an executive board member of the Downtown Tucson Partnership. She would like to help ITGA develop student-centered programs and “identify new ways to serve our government and community partners.” To contact Julie, click here.
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Study Indicates Virus Surging in College Towns |
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The spread of the coronavirus accelerated sharply in U.S. counties where large universities held classes in person last fall, federal health researchers reported on Wednesday. Incidence rates in those counties rose more than 50 percent in the first three weeks after classes started, compared with the previous three-week period, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. By contrast, infection rates declined in counties without large universities or where large universities held classes remotely last fall, the study said. The findings come as many students who were home for the holidays prepare to return to campus. They will converge on college towns at a time when the virus is surging in many parts of the country, overwhelming hospitals and straining health care services. At least 3,964 new coronavirus deaths and 255,728 new cases were reported in the United States on Wednesday. The New York Times
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Shopping Locally Paying Off |
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Great Bend, Indiana - The City of Great Bend’s sales tax collections for 2020 were the highest they’ve been since 2015, despite the economic downturn brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, City Administrator Kendal Francis said when addressing the City Council Monday night. “So after our initial projections of doom and gloom, we responded favorably. So thank you to everyone who’s continuing to shop local.” This money not only bolsters the general fund, but also street projects, economic development, and other capital improvement efforts, he said. “So that’s a great thing.” According to the Kansas Department of Revenue, Great Bend netted $2,598,079.93 is sales tax revenue last year, which was up 1.7% from 2019’s $2,555,669.32. The total was $2,710,794.87 in the referenced 2015. Great Bend Tribune
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More Colleges Outsourcing Services to For-Profits |
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Colleges and universities have long outsourced such things as bookstores and dining and custodial services. Now they’re paying billions of dollars a year to for-profit corporations to create and administer online courses; recruit and enroll students; advise and tutor those students once they start school; oversee research; manage information technology and utilities; and build or manage dorms, classrooms, labs, parking and student unions. Some of these functions are outside the institutions’ educational missions, advocates of such partnerships point out, though what’s new is that “more and more are cutting closer to the academic core,” said Dennis Gephardt, vice president and senior credit officer on the higher education and not-for-profit team at the Moody’s bond-rating agency. Universities and colleges say outsourcing also saves them money and makes them more nimble and efficient. The Washington Post
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Upcoming Events & Announcements |
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Call for Proposals: Interested in presenting at the virtual ITGA City & University Relations Conference, May 24-26, 2021? Visit our Call for Proposals page and view the conference tracks and details. Submissions are due on or before Friday, February 19, 2021. Questions? Contact Beth@itga.org.
Conference Registration is open! Register now for the Early Bird discounted rates. ITGA is offering a cost savings of a 50% reduction for those who register 3 or more from their institution or organization at the early rate. Questions? Contact Susan@itga.org.
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Welcome New & Renewing Members |
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City of Bothell & University of Washington, Bothell; City of Manchester & University of Manchester; City of San Marcos & Texas State University; Town of Wolfville & Acadia University; University of Colorado, Boulder; To inquire about membership opportunities, contact Susan@itga.org.
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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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