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UNIVERSITYOFMINNESOTA
Self-StudyReportforUniversity-wideCentersandInstitutes
UniversityofMinnesotaRobertJ.JonesUrbanResearchandOutreach-EngagementCenter
Established2009ReportingtotheOfficeforPublicEngagement(OPE)intheOfficeoftheExecutiveVicePresidentand
Provost
[email protected],AssociateProfessorandDepartmentChair2001PlymouthAvenueNorthMinneapolis,[email protected],2016ofSelf-StudyReportPreparation
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III.BACKGROUNDANDHISTORY TheRobertJ.JonesUrbanResearchandOutreach-EngagementCenter(UROC)emergedfromavisionofanengaged,place-basedentitythatwouldsupporttheUniversityofMinnesota-TwinCities(UMTC)infulfillmentofitslandgrantmissioninthecampus’urbanenvirons.In2005,UMTCformedanUrbanAgendaTaskForcewithamission“tofulfilltheUniversity’slandgrantandcivicmissionsthroughaddressingissuesofurbancommunitiesincollaborationwiththosecommunities,inordertoimprovethequalityoflifeforallMinnesotans.”1AnearlymanifestationofthisvisionwastheformationoftheUniversityNorthsidePartnership(UNP)in2006,whichconnectedtheUniversitytotheCityofMinneapolisandHennepinCounty,andwhichengagedwithcommunityconcerns.TheUNPenvisionedaphysicaluniversitypresenceinNorthMinneapoliswithafacilitythatwouldhouseajointUniversity-countyhealthfacilityfocusedonresearchinmentalhealth,childdevelopment,andfamilysupport.InitialreactiontotheproposedUniversityresearchfacilityinNorthMinneapoliswasmixed.SupporterssawthepotentialbenefitsofUniversityinvolvementinanareathathadexperienceddecadesofdisinvestment,whiledetractorspointedtoalonghistoryofresearchon,andexploitationof,under-resourcedcommunities.Ultimately,theplansforaresearchfacilitydissolvedin2008inthefaceofcontinuingcommunitydistrustandworseningeconomicconditionslocallyandnationally.However,thecommunitydiscussionsheldaroundtheUNP’splanshadsurfacedsupportforUniversity-communityengagement.In2008,theUMTCpurchasedanabandonedshoppingcenteratthecornerofPlymouthandPennAvenuesNorth.UROCwastobecomeaphysicalplace,butitneededastrategyforhowtheUMTCandNorthMinneapolismightengagewithoneanotherformutualbenefit,akeycomponentoftheUMTC’sdefinitionofengagement.Toaddressthisissue,UMTCengagedformorethantwoyearswithcommunitymembersfromNorthMinneapolisandotherstodevelopamissionandvisionforthefacilitynowknownasUROC.TheprocessbeganwiththeUMTCcontractingwithTheLyceumGroup,aconsultingfirmthatprovidedconveningandfacilitationservices.ThefirmconductedinterviewswithcommunitymembersandUMTCfacultyandstaff.Fromthispoolofinterviewees,agroupwasidentifiedtoplanaconferenceintendedtokickstartthestrategicplanningprocessforUROC.TheFuturesConference,asitwasnamed,washeldinFebruary2009andwasattendedbymorethan50stakeholdersincludingadvocates,activists,andrepresentativesfromcommunityandfaith-basedorganizations,government,UMTC,students,andlocalfoundations.TheattendeesdraftedmissionandvisionstatementsforUROC;afterwhichanactionplanningteamdidintensiveworkoverthecourseofthefollowingweekstosetstrategicgoalsbasedonthedraftmission.Focusgroupswereheldsothatcommunitymemberscouldreviewandrespondtodraftdocuments.Theresultsoftheengagementprocesseswerepresentedtothen-UMTCSeniorVicePresidentRobertJ.Jones,forwhomUROCisnownamed.Thetwo-yearengagementprocessidentifiedcleargoalsforUROC.Thecenterwouldneedtobeaccountable,transparent,andrelevant.Itwouldneedtomakeuseofacollaborativemodelofworkthatrecognizedcommunityassetsandvaluedlocalknowledge.Workundertakeninpartnershipwiththecommunitywouldneedtoresultinmutualbenefit,withthecommunitydrivingresearch,ratherthan
1 Maruyama, Geoffery, Robert J. Jones, and John R. Finnegan. (2009). Advancing an urban agenda: Principles and experiences of an urban land grant university.” Metropolitan Universities, 20: 75-100.
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playingtheroleof“researchsubjects.”ItwaswiththesecommunitymandatesthatUROCopeneditsdoorsinSeptember2009,andofficiallyopenedinfulloperationinMayof2010.IV. SCOPE, MISSIONANDACCOMPLISHMENTS ScopeUROCisaUMTC-wideresearchcenterthatreportstotheUniversityofMinnesotaExecutiveVicePresidentandProvostthroughthesystem-wideOfficeforPublicEngagement.BecauseUROC’smissionandworkwasdesignedtoadvancetheUMTC’stoplinestrategicgoals,thecenterispositionedwithinacademicreportinglinesthatincludeallcollegiateandacademicunitsontheUMTCcampus.Assuch,UROCprogrammaticactivitiesandprojectsmeetthestrategicgoalsofgeneratingknowledgeanddevelopingaworkforcecapableoftacklingtheworld’scomplexchallenges;recruitingandsupportingground-breakingresearchersandteacherswhofosterreciprocalrelationshipsinthecommunitieswithwhichtheUniversityintersects;andempoweringstudents,faculty,andstafftoachievethesegoals.Additionally,UROCcontributestotheUniversity’sbroadermissionbybuildingtheUniversity’scapacityforpublicengagementwhiledevelopingmodelsforengaged,partnership-basedresearchfocusedonthemostpressingsocialissuesofourtime.UROCisaplace-basedresearchcentersituatedinaNorthMinneapolisneighborhoodapproximatelyfivemileswestoftheUMTC’sMinneapoliscampus.UROC’sleadershipdefines“place-based”tomeanthoseattributesofUROC’sworkthatresultfromthecenterbeingphysicallyrootedwithinaneighborhoodandgeographiccommunity.Thoseattributesprovideuniqueopportunitiesforreciprocalengagementthroughproximity,connection,andtrust,butcarrywiththemtheobligationsofaccessibility,inclusion,accountability,andtransparency.UROCleveragesitslocation,aswellasitscampusandcommunityconnectionstoproducepublicly-engagedresearchmodelsandresearchresultsinsupporttheUniversity’smission.ItsoperationalprinciplesarebasedonrelationshipsbetweenUniversityscholarsandcommunitypartnersthatarerootedintrust,respect,power-sharing,reciprocalbenefit,andasharedbeliefinthebenefitsofhigh-qualitypubliclyengagedresearchintheareasofhealthandwellness,economicandcommunitydevelopment,andeducationandlifelonglearning.UROC’scontributionstoengagedscholarshipandcommunitybenefitsarerootedinitsdualnatureasaresearchcenterandaphysicalbuilding.EvidencecontinuestomountthatbothcommunityandUniversitypartnersseekoutaffiliationthroughUROCbecauseofits“neutral”or“inviting”space.WhileUROCleadershipactivelyreachesouttotheUniversityscholarsandcommunityorganizationswithpartnershipopportunities,themajorityofUROC’scurrentandemergingresearchprojectsandcommunityprogramsarearesultofUROC’sgrowingreputationasatrusted,high-qualityresearchcenter,areputationthatoneUniversityprofessorcalled“UROC’scache.”Since2009,thepersonalimpactofUROCasreportedbyNorthMinneapolisresidentshasbeenincreasingconsistently.Whilethesamplesizedoesnotallowforstatisticalsignificance,theconsistencysuggestsanunderlyingtrend.2AsofJuly1,2016,UROCwashometo65University-communityprojectsinvolvingmorethan100communitypartnersand42UniversityunitsrangingfromUniversityofMinnesotaExtension,tothe
2 University of Minnesota Public Perception Survey, 2009-2015
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MedicalSchool,CollegeofDesign,andHumphreySchoolofPublicAffairs.UROC’sownstaffareinvolvedinspearheadingsignatureresearchandengagementprojectsintheareasofhealthandwellness,economicandcommunitydevelopment,andeducationandlifelonglearning.Thestructuralorganizationofuniversityengagementcenterstypicallyfollowoneoftwoformats:1)anon-campuscenterdedicatedtoconnectingstudentswithservicelearningopportunitiesorresearcherswithresearchsitesinacommunitylocatedinproximityorsomedistanceaway;or2)auniversityfacilitylocatedwithinacommunitythatprovideslocalresidentsaccesstoservicesoreducationalopportunities.Thesemodelscommonlyprovideone-wayaccess—theuniversityaccessesthecommunityorviceversa—whichcanexacerbatepowerandresourcedifferences.Incontrast,UROC’s“place-based”modelprovidestwo-wayaccess—itslocationinanurbanneighborhoodprovidesaplacefortheUniversityscholarsandlocalresidentstoworkalongsideeachotherinmutuallybeneficialwaysthatcreateandproduceknowledge.UROC’suniquedualfunctionnecessitatesatwofoldoperationalstrategywhichincludesthefull-timeoperationofapublic-facing,UniversityofMinnesotabuilding,whiledevelopingaprogrammaticportfolioofhigh-quality,impactfulresearchandoutreachthatlinksUniversityandcommunityassetsandneeds.Onthephysical/operationalside,UROC’sleadershipandoperationalteamsworkcloselywithUniversityServices,FacilitiesManagement,PurchasingServices,theOfficeofRealEstate,andUniversityofMinnesotaPolicetoinsurethesafetyofvisitors,staff,andpropertyandthatUROCisincompliancewithallUniversitypoliciesandprocedures.InadditiontoschedulingandmaintainingUROC’spublicmeetingspace,UROCstaffisalsoresponsibleformultiple,ongoingvendorcontactswithcommunitysuppliersofsecurityandfacility-relatedservicesrelatedtobuildingupkeep.UROC’sgallerycoordinatorisresponsiblefortheinstallationandcoordinationofpublicworksofartasperUROC’scommitmenttobeingashowcaseforartistsfromunderrepresentedcommunities.
MissionThemissionofUROCistolinktheUniversityofMinnesotainvitalpublicpartnershipwithurbancommunitiestoadvancelearning,improvequalityoflife,anddiscoverbreakthroughsolutionstocriticalproblems.ThevisionofUROCistotransformthewaystheUniversityandcommunitiesworktogetherbysurfacingmultiplewaysofknowingandtryingnewwaysofdoing.UROC’smissionandvisionarealignedwiththeUniversity’sthreefoldmissionofresearchanddiscovery,teachingandlearning,andoutreachandpublicservice.ProjectsconductedthroughUROCadvancethecommunity-identifiedpriorityareasofhealthandwellness,economicandcommunitydevelopment,andeducationandlifelonglearning.Further,projectsmustbeaction-focusedandmusthavebeeninitiatedincollaborationwithcommunitypartners,withoutcomesintendedtobenefitallpartners,aswellasthebroaderpublic.UROCprojectsfocusontheinterestsandconcernsofurbancommunities,immigrantcommunitiesandcommunitiesofcolorintheTwinCitiesandthroughoutthestate.BecauseUROCdoesnotdictateorrequirespecificresearchapproachesormethodologies,itservesasanacademicincubator--atransformativeresearchcenterinwhichemergingstylesofinterdisciplinaryresearchoncomplexsocietalissuesareencouraged.
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AccomplishmentsInjustsixyears,UROC’saccomplishmentshavebecomenumerousandwideranging—fromproducingmeaningfulandlife-changingresearchtoengagingfaculty,studentsandstaffindozensofcross-disciplinarycollaborationsacrosscampus.Itsreputationforproducinghigh-qualityprogramsthroughrespectandcollaborationhasstrengthenedtheUniversity’stiestoNorthMinneapolis.Itscommitmenttomutuallyagreed-uponoutcomeshavepositionedtheUniversityasatrustedpublicforumforcriticalconversationsaroundurbanissues.Belowarefivemilestonesworthhighlighting:
1. DevelopmentandlaunchofanEngagedResearchLab:Thelabaimstofosterandpromoteengagedscholarshipthroughdevelopmentofanintellectualcommunity,experimentingwithmodelsofengagement,andongoingtrainingoffaculty,studentsandstaff.
2. DevelopmentandlaunchofanUniversityofMinnesotaEngagementZone:ThisinitiativeisanOfficeforPublicEngagementeffortco-leadbyUROCdesignedtoalignresearcheffortsacrosstheUMTCastheyimpactourplace-basedcommunityofNorthMinneapolis.
3. EstablishmentofUROCSignatureProjects:UROC’slong-term,community-based,participatoryandactionresearchhighpublicimpactprojectsthatdevelopandexploremodelsofpublicengagement.Projectsinclude:TheNorthsideJobCreationTeam,TheTraumaRecoveryProject,SexTradingandTraffickingandCommunityWellbeing,GenerationNextFacultyFellows,andCriticalConversations.
4. CreationofUROCAffiliationProcessandProjects:UROCprovidesaformalsystemoftoolsandsupporttoUniversityresearchandoutreachprojectdirectorsworkinginpartnershipwithcommunitythroughtheUROCaffiliationprocess.
5. Thought-leadershiponEngagement:UROC’sexecutivedirectorandseniorleadershipareincreasinglyrequestedtoparticipateinbothUniversityandexternalcommittees,networks,andcouncilsandareincreasinglysoughtaftertospeak,write,andpresentonengagedscholarshiponthenationalandinternationallevel.
Theremainderofthissectionexploresaspectsofthesefivemilestoneswithinthecategoriesarticulatedthroughtheself-studyguidewereceived.Theseinclude:intellectualcontributions,facultyinvolvement,studentandpost-docinvolvement,andcollaboration,andvalue-added.Eachitemisalsodescribedindepthlaterinthereport.AlistofallUROCprojectsandinitiativesisprovidedintheappendix.A.INTELLECTUALCONTRIBUTIONSTOACADEMIAANDTHEWIDERCOMMUNITYWITHRESPECTTOAPARTICULARTOPICANDACROSSMULTIPLEDISCIPLINESUROC’scontributionstotheacademiccommunitycannotbequantifiedwithtypicalmetricsbecauseitsmissionandscopeofworkarenotdefinedbyaparticularacademicdiscipline.However,itscontributionstothewiderUniversitycommunity—contributionstiedtotesting,measuring,andrefiningmodelsofreciprocalengagement—aresignificant.Bybeingaplacewhereengagementcanoccur,UROCmakesfourkeycontributionstotheUniversityandwidercommunity:
1.LegitimacyandReciprocalEngagement;2.ProximityandTrust;
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3.TrainingandScholarlyDevelopment;and4.Model-buildingandScholarlyDissemination.
Takentogether,thesecontributionsconstituteinfrastructurethatexpandsthecapacityofUMTCtoconductcommunity-engagedresearchandaddressreal-world,real-timeproblems.
1. LegitimacyandReciprocalEngagementUROC’smissionandapproachweredevelopedthroughengagementwiththecommunity.TheengagementprocesscreatedopportunitiesforUMTCtobothconfrontitslegacyinNorthMinneapolis(andotherunderserved,underrepresentedcommunities)andalsoestablishgroundworkfornewrelationshipswiththecommunitythatarebuiltonaccountability,transparency,and“beingagoodneighbor.”Forexample,in2010NorthMinneapoliswashitbyadevastatingtornado.Inresponse,UROCworkedwithcommunityleadersandofferedspecificuniversityresourcestosupportcommunityefforts.WorkingwithrepresentativesfromacrosstheUniversityofMinnesotacommunity,UROCstaffresearched,andprovideddemographicmapsforvolunteerstodoadoor-to-doorassessmentofthedamage.UROCtrained,deployed,anddebriefed550volunteersfortheassessmentoverathree-dayperiod.ThiseffortrepresentedhowtheUniversityrespondsasapartnerandpartofthecommunity.TheprinciplesuponwhichanewrelationshipwasforgedduringtheformationofUROCasaninstitution,andhavedemonstratedthroughpractice,havemadethecommunityandcommunityorganizationsmorereceptivetocollaboratingwithUROCstafftodoresearch,engagement,andoutreach.Thiscommunityreceptivenessextendstootherfaculty,staff,andstudentswhoelecttobasetheirworkatUROC;researchersworkingatUROCareasaresultpushedtodemonstrateaccountabilitytothecommunityandtransparencyintheirworkwiththecommunity.UROCencouragesandsupportsothersincultivatingpartnershipsthatwillhavemutualbenefitforallparties,andaimstobothdisseminateresearchfindingsandactonthosefindings.TheworkthatUROC’sfoundersandstaffhavedone,andcontinuetodo,createaplatformoflegitimacythatmakesitpossibleforadditionalUniversityresearcherstoenterandworkauthenticallywiththecommunity.
2. ProximityandTrustUROC’sNorthMinneapolislocationisanessentialcharacteristicofitsresearchinfrastructure.Universityfaculty,staff,andstudentsworkingatUROCmusttraveloutsidethe“bubble”ofthemaincampusandthroughtheneighborhoodsofNorthMinneapolis.BeingphysicallylocatedinacommunitycreatesmanyopportunitiesfornewexposuresanddeepenedconnectionsbetweentheUniversityandNorthMinneapoliscommunities.Furthermore,bothresearchandlearningbecomemoresalientwhenresearchersandstudentsinteractdailywiththecommunityinwhichtheirworktakesplace.Convenient,dailyUniversity-UROCtransportationfashionedalongParkingandTransportationService’sCampusConnectorswouldhelptoincreaseUROC’sscholarlyimpactonbothresearchersandstudents.Inaddition,theConnectorwouldbecomeabridgetotheUniversity—andtherealandperceiveddifficultyofnavigatingUniversityparkingwouldbecomeanon-issue.
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UROC’spublicspacesalsoprovideabridgetotheUniversityinthattheyprovidespaceformeetings,artexhibitions,workshops,orcontemplation.UROC’spublicspacesbreakdowntheformidabilityofthe“ivorytower,”makingtheUniversityanditsresearchresourcesaccessibletothelocalcommunity.Theendresultisimpactfulscholarshipthatcanbeusedtoimprovequalityoflife.DuringtheoccupationoftheneighboringMinneapolisPoliceDepartment’sFourthPrecinct,UROC’sdoorsremainedopentobothprotestersandpoliceofficers—achallengingsituationforthestaffofUROC,butanecessarystatementthattheUniversityremainedcommittedtotheNorthMinneapoliscommunityevenwhenthegoinggottough.WorkingclosingwithUniversityadministrationandcommunityleadersinUROC’sTraumaRecoveryProject,UROChasplayedasignificantroleincommunityhealingandreconciliationasotherrecenttraumaticeventshaveunfolded.
3. TrainingandScholarlyDevelopment
UROC’sphysicalpresenceinNorthMinneapolisprovidesahomebaseforresearchers.AsaUniversityofficebuilding,UROCprovidesworkstations,meetingspaces,andconnectivitywiththeInternet.Researchteamscan“land”atUROCandoperateforthedurationoftheirprojectwhilehavingaccesstobothUniversityandlocalcommunityresources.UROC’snewEngagedResearchLabwillprovideevenmoreopportunitiesforexchangeofideasandperspectives,thedevelopmentofnewcollaborations,andthecultivationofnewmutualunderstandings.
4. Model-buildingandScholarlyDissemination
AkeyfunctionofUROCistodevelopandtestmodelsforengagingwithcommunitiesinmutually-beneficialpartnershipstoco-createsolutionstosomeofourbiggestchallenges.Todothis,UROCgeneratesdollarstosupportspecificprojects,studiesitsownwork,conductsdocumentationandevaluationactivities,andhasbegunpublishingitsprocessesandfindings.Signatureresearchprojectsarethefocusofmultipleformsofdisseminationactivitiesincludingwrittenreports;publicmeetingsandspecialevents;videos,brochures,newsletters,websites,andothervisualrepresentationofdata;newsmediacoverage;andacademicandpeer-reviewedpublication.WeareinyearsixofthisexperimentcalledUROC–andyeartwoofhavingafullyfunctioningstrategicvisionandoperationalprocesses.Thus,wearepoisedtobeginthejourneyofsharingtheoverallmodelandworkofUROCmorebroadlyinthescholarlycommunity.Forexample,overthepastyearwehaveengagedwithcommunitystakeholderstounderstandtheirviewsonourcurrentmodesandmechanismsfordissemination.Wediscoveredthatoureffortsatdisseminationhavereachedsome,butnotallaudiences.So,ourworkiswell-knowninthebroadcircleofpeopleengagedinspecifictopicarea.Forexample,individualsinvolvedinMinnesota’sbroadcoalitionsworkingonsextrafficking,includingserviceproviders,lawenforcement,governmentleaders,andmore,arewellawareofoursignatureresearchinthisarea.ButthegeneralpublicinnorthMinneapolisislessaware.Inourworkonsextrafficking,wealsolearnedthatinfographicsandothervisualdatastrategiesarecriticalforwidespread
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disseminationandusabilityofourresearchfindings.Inourlatestreport,theuseofinfographicstorepresentthemarketforjuvenilesextraffickinginMinneapolishasallowedpoliceforcesacrossthestateofMinnesotatosharpentheirdepartmentaltrainingandtoguideinvestigativefunctions.
Byofferinglegitimacy,proximity,andlogisticalsupport,UROCservesasvitalinfrastructurethatmakescommunityengagedresearchpossibleandaccessibletomoreresearchersandstudentsontheUMTCcampus.Currently,UROCistheonlyresearchfacilityintheUniversityofMinnesotasystemthatprovideslogisticalsupportandmethodologicalframingforengagedresearchinaspacesharedwithcommunity.UROCisalsoengagedintheexplorationanddocumentationofmodelsofengagement.Therearemanydifferentmethods,approaches,andtheoriesthatunderpinengagedresearch,andUROCisdedicatedtodevelopingnewmodelsofengagedresearchthatwillbenefitallinstitutionsinvolvedinthiswork.B. FACULTYINVOLVEMENT
FacultyinvolvementiscriticaltoUROC’smissionandgrowth.UROCengagesfacultyfrommorethan42academicprogramsacrosstheUMTCcampus.Afulllistisprovidedintheappendices.WehavemultiplewaysforfacultytoaligntheirworkwithUROC.ThisincludestheUROCaffiliationprocesswherefaculty(andotherUMTCprincipalinvestigatorsandprogramdirectors)can“officially”aligntheirworkwithUROCanduseUROCfacilities,contributingandcapitalizingonUROC’smission.AsofJuly2016,wehave65projectsalignedwithUROC.StartingintheFallof2016,researchactivitiesineachofthethreeUROCpriorityareaswillbecoordinatedbyafacultyorstafflead:YinglingFan,associateprofessorintheHumphreySchoolofPublicAffairswillleadtheeconomicandcommunitydevelopmentefforts;KatieJohnston-Goodstar,assistantprofessorintheSchoolofSocialWorkwillleadaroundeducationandlifelonglearning;LaurenMartin,UROCResearchdirector,willleadeffortsinhealthandwellness.UROCalsoengagesfacultyfromacrosscampusinitsownsignatureprojects.Someexamplesinclude:
GenerationNextFacultyFellows:LedbyfacultyfromUMTCdepartmentsincludingOrganizationalLeadershipandPolicyDevelopment;SchoolofSocialWork;CommunicationStudies;Gender,WomenandSexualityStudies,andtheMedicalSchool,thisgroupaimstoexaminewhyan“achievementgap”exists,andexaminetheintersectionofstructuralissuesthatareattherootofthatgap.In2015-2016thegroupsengagedinneworongoingprojectswithvariouscommunitiestogeneratesolutionsforaddressingthegap.NextstepsincludedisseminationofoutcomesfromtheirprojectsaswellasaUROCreportonlessonslearnedaboutcreatingspacesforfaculty.Inaddition,thefellowswithconveneinfall2016todiscussnextstepsasagroup,andfundingopportunitiesfortheprojectsinthecomingyear.
NorthsideJobCreationTeam(NJCT):theNJCTisamulti-sectorstakeholdergroupconvenedandfacilitatedbyUROCwiththechargeofcreatinga1,000livingwagejobs,inornearnorthMinneapolisthatemployresidentsofnorthMinneapolis.Deep-divebusinessresearchisledbyateamfromCarlsonSchoolofManagement.ResearchandscholarshipeffortsareleadandcoordinatedbyProf.YinglingFanfromtheHumphreySchoolofPublicAffairs.
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SexTraffickingandCommunityWellbeing:Thisinitiativecoordinatesover6distinctresearchprojectstogeneratecommunity-groundedandaction-orientedresearchonsextradingandtraffickinginMinnesota.LeadbyLaurenMartin,theinitiativeengagesfacultyandstudentsfromacrosscampus.Forexample,UROCpartneredwithTasoullaHadjiyanniinTheSchoolofDesignonanexhibitattheGoldsteinMuseum.
Lookingforward,thenewengagedresearchlab(seepage15)willofferanotheropportunityforfacultytoengagewithoneanotheraroundtheirprojectsandaroundthepractices,philosophies,andepistemologiesthatdrivecommunity-engagedresearch.UMTCfacultyandstaffarealsodeeplyinvolvedinprogrammaticengagementandoutreachactivitiesatUROC,providingavenuefordisseminationtonewandbroadaudienceswithinformationoncommunity-drivenareasofinterest.Insodoingweprovideadualbenefittofacultyandcommunity.Examplesofthisinclude:
CriticalConversations:communityconveningsfacilitatedbyUROCwherecommunitymembers,activists,electedofficials,andUMTCfacultyengagewithmembersofthecommunitytodiscusscriticallocalissues,includinghomeownership,sextrafficking,communitysafety,andhealingtrauma.
Roomrental/reservation:allmembersofcampuscanutilizecommunityspaceatUROCandourabilitytoadvertiseandpromoteevents.
C)UNDERGRADUATESTUDENT,GRADUATESTUDENT,ANDPOST-DOCINVOLVEMENTUROCdoesnotofferstudentscredit-bearingcourses.Itisaplace-basedengagementcenterthathousesongoingcommunityengagedprojects,andservesasalearninglabfordoingengagedwork.Graduatestudents,undergraduatestudentstaff,andresearchanddissertationfellowsallcontributetoprojectshousedatUROC.Therearecurrentlymorethan50undergraduateandgraduatestudentsinvolvedinUROC-basedprojectsinvariouscapacities,includinggraduateresearchassistants,researchfellowsandinterns,studentswhosedissertationsandthesesarebeingadvisedbyUROCstaff,anddatacollectors.ManyoftheseprojectsrequireclosecollaborationwithstudentsandfacultyfromdepartmentsfromacrosstheUMTC,andwithcommunityleadersandcommunityexperts.Project-basedworkprovidesstudentsopportunitiestodevelopresearchskills,buttoalsodevelopnewperspectivesastheyworkalongsidecollaboratorsfromdifferentdepartmentsandcommunities.UROC,inpartnershipwiththeCollegeofLiberalArts,DepartmentofGender,WomenandSexualityStudies,alsohostsapostdoctoralfellow.Thepost-docwasfundedin2015-2106throughacommunitypartnerfocusedonyouth.Thisyear,thepost-docwillbefundedthroughthedepartmenttocontinueaprojectpilotedwithStPaulPublicSchoolsthatthisyearwillbepilotedinaNorthMinneapolisschool.Examplesofspecificprojectsaimedatengagingstudentsinclude:
JosieJohnsonUROCDissertationFellows,agroupofgraduatestudentswhoaredevelopingtheirengagedresearchskillsaspartofdissertationwork.Theprogramaimstosupportprofessionaldevelopment,deepenunderstandingsofthetheoriesandpracticeofengagedscholarship,andprovideaspaceformutualsupportandreflectionforgraduatestudentsengaginginthiswork.
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TheSexTradingandSexTraffickingInitiative,amulti-year,multi-partnerproject,engagesnumerousgraduatestudentsasresearchassistantseachsemester.Duringthesummerof2016weengaged13internsandgraduateresearchassistantsfrommultipledisciplinestolearnandengageinresearchactivitiesonourongoingresearchrelatedtosexbuyers.Theteamenteredandanalyzeddatafrominterviewswithover157lawenforcementandserviceprovidersacrossthestateofMinnesota.Studentslearnedhowtodoliteraturesearches,mediareview,transcription,codingandanalysis.Notonlydidstudentsgainvaluable,hands-ontraining,theyalsocontributedtoapublicallyengagedprojectthatwillimpactstatewideandnationaleffortstoreducetheharmscausedbysextrafficking.CarlsonVenturesEnterprise(CVE)partnerswiththeNorthsideJobCreationTeaminauniqueexperientialprogramforfull-timeMBAstudentsattheCarlsonSchoolofManagementattheUniversityofMinnesota.ThegoalofCVEistogivestudentsanopportunitytoevaluatenewbusinessopportunitiesintherealworldandtogivestudentsthetoolstoassessmarkets,craftbusinessmodelsandunderstandfundingmechanismsforallkindsofnewventures.
UROCalsoengagesstudentsinprojectspecificwaysforengagedprojects.TwoexamplesincludeourpartnershipwithBlueCrossandBlueShieldofMinnesotatoevaluateNiceRideNeighborhood(NRN)andourpartnershipwiththeNorthsideAchievementZoneandWilderResearchtoidentifyarepresentativesampleofhouseholdsinnorthMinneapolisfortheNAZcommunitysurvey.NRNengagedfivestudentsinparticipant-observation,communityengagementandinterviews.FortheNAZcommunitysurveyprojectUROChired27studentsandcommunitymemberstogodoor-to-doorcollectingdata.Botharemechanismsforstudentstolearnwhilebuildingscholarshipandresearchthatcontributestothepublicgood.D)COLLABORATIONSWITHDEPARTMENTS,COLLEGES,OTHERCENTERS/INSTITUTES,ANDNON-UNIVERSITYORGANIZATIONSUROCcoordinatesandcollaborateswithothercollegesanddepartmentsonprojectsthathavebothlocalandregionalimpacts.ThesecollaborationsaresuccessfulinpartbecauseoftheinfrastructuralroleUROCplaysinsupportingthem.SomeprojectsutilizeUROC’sphysicalspaces;forothers,UROCfacilitatesaccesstotheNorthMinneapoliscommunity.Oneofthechallengesfacedbyallengagementunitsisdocumentingcollaborationsinrealtime.Overthepastyear,UROChasfocusedontheprocessofdocumentingprojectsthatareaffiliatedwithUROC.Todate,65projectshavebeendocumented.Eachprojectleadwasaskedtocompletea17-questionsurvey,whichaskedaboutprojectdemographics,connectionstothecommunityandtheUniversity,andaboutthegoalsandactivitiesusedtoachievethosegoals.Essentially,thedatagatheredprovidesUROCwithimportantinformationaboutaffiliatedprojects,allowsUROCtoreportonavarietyofdataonindividualandmultipleprojects(e.g.,numberofpartners,typesofpartners,areasofimpact,sourceoffunding,goalsandactivities,etc.)ThisportionofthedocumentationprocessisalignedwiththeOutputscolumnasidentifiedontheUROClogicmodel.ThenextstepinthedocumentationprocessistoidentifyhowprojectsareconnectedtoUROCspecifically.TheShortTermOutcomescolumnontheUROClogicmodelindicatesafocusonbuildingrelationships,establishingtrust,andsharingbothinthecreationandthedisseminationofknowledge.TheroleUROCplayswillvarydependingontheneedsofthepartnership/project.Itisimportantthat
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UROCestablishawayforprojectstoidentifytheirownconnectionwithUROCasopposedtoUROCdecidingwhatroleitplaysinthepartnership.
Afulllistofdocumentedprojectsisprovidedintheappendices.Belowareafewexamples.
IntegratedUrbanInfrastructureSolutionsforEnvironmentallySustainable,Healthy,andLivableCities.ThisprojectisimplementedwiththeHumphreySchoolofPublicAffairsandfocusesonidentifyingtheprioritiesofNorthMinneapolisresidentswithrespecttoenvironmentalsustainability,health,andlivability,withagoalofpolicydevelopmentandlong-rangeplanningthatmeetstheneedsofarearesidents.Theprojectengagescommunityresidents,faculty,andplanningprofessionals.
SecondChanceSaturdays.StudentsfromtheUniversityofMinnesotaLawSchool,incollaborationwiththeLegalRightsCenterandattorneysfromtheVolunteerLawyersNetwork,meetwithcommunitymemberswithcriminalrecordstounderstandtheirsituation,theirrights,andanybarrierstheymayface.
PowertoQuit.HeadedbyMedicalSchoolProfessorKolaOkuyemi,UROC-basedPowertoQuitIIprogramfocusesonhowtoimprovesmokingcessationratesinhomelesspopulations.Itsgoalistodeterminewhetherintensivesmokinginterventioncoupledwithintegratedalcoholabuseandsmokingcounselingcanhelphomelesspeoplekickthehabit.
UniversityofMinnesotaExtensionService.TheExtensionservicecoordinatesanumberofprojectshousedatUROCincludingoneaimedatdevelopingurbanfarmlandandincubatingurbanfarmingbusinesses.
Inadditiontoouraffiliationwithdepartmentsandschoolsacrosstheuniversity,theUROCdirector’steamparticipatesinimportantcommitteesacrosstheuniversity.Forexample,theexecutivedirectorwasselectedtoserveontheFacultyConsultativeCommittee,twomajorcommitteesleadingtheuniversitystrategicplanningprocess,thereviewteamforGrandChallengesResearch,theOfficeforPublicEngagementPublicEngagementCouncilandothers.TheUROCdirectorsofresearchandoutreacharepartoftheIRBreviewcommitteeforstudentresearch.E)DESCRIPTIONOFACHIEVEMENTSTHATCOULDNOTHAVEBEENREALIZEDWITHINTHEUNIVERSITY’SREGULARDEPARTMENTANDCOLLEGIATESTRUCTURE—CENTER/INSTITUTE’SVALUEADDEDUROC’sinteractionswithotherplace-basedengagementcentersacrossthecountryandinternationallyhasshownthatalthoughweoftenhavecommongoals(suchascommunity–universitypartnership),ourapproachisdifferent.Theapproachisoftendifferentbecausethecontextisdifferent.Forexample,theUniversityofNebraska,Omahacreatedanengagementcenteroncampustobringthecommunitytotheuniversitywhereallengagedcampusactivitiesarelocated.OurcolleaguesatYorkUniversity,Torontohaveaplace-basedengagementcenterinarentedstorefrontspaceinthecommunitywithafocusofenhancingeducationthroughcivicengagement.UROC’scommunitybasedlocation,ourvisionoftransformationandfocusonresearchandoutreachandcyclicalconnectionisunique.TheconnectionofourworkwiththeOfficeforPublicEngagement’s10pointplan,ourworkwithfaculty,studentsandstaff
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toenhancetheinstitutionalizationandadvancementofengagedwork,andpositioningintheacademicstructureoftheuniversity,connectsustotheuniversitycommunityasanintegratedunit.Theworktocreateanintegrateduniversityunitthatiswellpositionedinthecommunityhasbeenintentional.UROC,throughoursignatureprograms,modeledwiththecommunityandtheuniversity,demonstrateshowresearch,asauniversityresource,couldbemutuallybeneficial.Inthisvein,UROCrepresentstothecommunitythecommitmentto,anddemonstrationof,theland-grantmissionoftheuniversity.Fortheuniversity,UROCrepresentsawayinwhichscholarlyengagementisrewarded,wherelike-mindedacademicsmaygrowtheirwork,andaplacewherestudentscanlearntobethenextgenerationofengagedscholars.UROCisnottheonlyplacethisworkhappensattheUniversity,butitisuniqueinouralignmentacrossgoals,includingalignmentwiththeuniversity’sengagementgoals,commitmenttoaddressingdifficulturbanissues,supportofmultiplesustainedcommunityanduniversityrelationships,andourstrongandgrowingreputationamongourpartnersandcommunitiesingeneral.Inaddition,UROCtakeseducatedrisks,meaningwewalktowardurbantopicsthatareoftenthemostdifficult.UROCiswillingtotakeeducatedrisksbecausewerecognizeandacceptthatfailureisanexcellentopportunityforlearning,refinement,reflectionandeventuallygrowth.ThebestexampleofthiswastheBroadbandAccessProject(BAP),athreeyearfederalgrantdesignedtoincreaseaccesstohighspeedinternetviacomputerlabslocatedthroughoutthemetropolitanarea.Metricsindicatethatwereachedmanyofourobjectives,with12computerlabscreatedorenhanced,over15,000hoursoffree,publictechnologytrainingandover90,000visitstoourcomputerlabsHowever,sustainabilitywasnotachievedpasttheendofthefederalgrantandtheactualexecutionoftheprojectwasdifficult.UROClearnedthatthetraditionalmodelofexecutingalargegrantfromatop-downdecisionmakingstructure,oramechanisticparadigm,wasnotsuccessfulanddidnotmeetourmissionofengagementortransformation.Futureprojectsneededtobebasedonrelationshipbuilding,ensuringmutualbenefit,alignmentwithUROC’svisionandcommunityneedsallleadingtotransformation.TheBAPoscillatedbetweentwoextremesofmeetingrigidUniversityandfederalpoliciesandgoalsandappeasingthedemandsofcommunitypartners.UROClearnedvaluablelessonsfromtheBAPthatwe’veappliedtooursubsequentprojects,lessonsthatwouldnothavebeenpossiblewithouttakingeducatedrisksandbeingwillingtofail.Althoughwedoworkwithhousing,jobcreation,andsmokingcessation,wealsoworkwithcommunitiesandtheuniversitytoprocesstopicsthatareoftentabooforunderservedcommunitiessuchasmentalhealth,sextraffickingandtrading,andunequalincarcerationpractices.UROCispersistentintheprojectswecommitto,apersistencethatalsoleadstosustainabilityandimpact.Forexample,ourworkinsextraffickingisaninitiativeofmultipleprojectsthatisbuilttodiscoverrootcauses.Ourjobcreationteam,throughresearchandoutreach,hasuncoveredsomerootissuesinlandacquisitionfornewbusinesses,movingthroughtheseissuestobringfournewbusinessestothearea.Thewayweworkallowsforcommunity,students,andfacultytoallhaveinputandtohavetheuniqueassetstheybringsharedandvalued.Finally,UROCisseenasa“neutralspace”fortoughcommunitydiscussionstohappen.Forexample,whenaNorthsidepastoraskedGovernorDaytontomeetwiththecommunityaboutthelackofjobsUROCwasaskedtohosttheconvening.WhenMinnesotaPublicRadioMPRwantedtobroadcastaliveshowfromthecommunityfollowinguponthe2010tornado,UROChostedandprovidedMPRwithanorientationtotheNorthside.TheUROCgalleryoffersunderrepresented,localartistsaspacetosharetheirworkwithcommunitiesincloseproximity.Thegallerycuratesthreeormoreexhibitionsayear
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withanopeningeventwherecommunityandartistsmeet.ExhibitsarealsooftentiedtoyearlyeventssuchastheCriticalConversationseries.Alloftheseeventsandprojectsproviderealandpositiveconnectionsbetweencommunitiesandtheuniversity.V. STRATEGIESFORBUILDINGINTELLECTUALCOMMUNITY UROCcontinuestoexplorestrategiesforfacilitatingintellectualcommunity-buildingamongfaculty,graduatestudents,andthewiderNorthMinneapoliscommunityinwaysthatleverageacademicresources,physicallocation,andcommunityrelationships.UROCframesintellectualcommunityinthreeprimaryways:(1)structuredfellowshipsandinternships(2)communitiesofpractice(3)communityengagementthroughsharingofspaceanddisseminationofresearchfindings.UROChasahistoryofofferingstructuredfellowshipsforfacultyanddoctoralstudents.Followingisareviewofthepastandcurrentintellectualcommunity-buildingwork.LookingBack:StructuredFellowshipsFellowshipsatUROCfacilitateengagementwithintheuniversitycommunityaroundcommunityconcerns,buttheyalsoplayanimportantroleinsupportingthedevelopmentofengagedscholars.JosieJohnsonUROCDissertationFellowsprovideprofessionaldevelopmentsupportforgraduatestudentsastheyconductcommunity-engagedresearchfortheirdissertations.Dissertationfellowssupportoneanother’swork,engageinreflectionabouttheirworkascommunity-engagedresearchersandascommunitymembers,anddeepentheirunderstandingsofthetheoryandpracticeofcommunity-engagedscholarship.Fellowshipsthatengagefacultyplayanimportantroleinprovidingspaceforengaged-scholarstosharetheirwork,buttheyalsohelptolegitimizecommunitypartnershipsinresearch.UROChasthusfarhostedthreecohortsoffacultyfellows.Thefirstcohortbroughttogethertenure-trackfacultyofcolor.Thiscohortproducedaspecialjournalissuefocusedonfacultyofcolorandurbaneducation,andreachedamutuallyagreeduponendingpointinitsthirdyear.Asecondcohortwasformedtoexplorethegapsbetweenresearchandpracticewithrespecttonarrativesonsextrafficking.Thissecondcohort,supportedbytheInstituteforAdvancedStudies(IAS)wasaninterdisciplinaryspacewhereresearchers,policymakers,andpractitionerscouldfindcommongroundtoaddressissuesaroundsextrafficking.Thecohortwascompletedafterayearandhalf.Thiscohortleadtomemberspublishingarticles,anewcourseonsextradingandmarginalizationattheHumphreySchoolofPublicAffairs,anexhibitionattheGoldsteinMuseum,andmore.Thecurrentfacultycohort,theGenerationNextUROCFacultyFellowsformedoutofUROC’spartnerorganizations’interestinaddressingtheeducationalachievementgap.TheGenerationNextFacultyFellowsinvolvesfivefacultyteams,eachofwhichmeetsmonthly.Theteamsalsocometogethertosharetheirwork.EachgroupreceivedfundingthroughUROCin2015(providedbyagrantfromtheUMTC’sMetropolitanCouncil)toinitiateapilotprojectwithacommunitypartnerthataimedtosupportstudentaccesstoeducation.TheprojectsincludeYPARs,languageartscurriculumdevelopment,andastudyofschooldisciplinepolicies,amongothers.Participationinthecurrentcohortcontinuestobestrong,andUROCcontinuestodocumentthefactorsthatcontributetotheeffectivenessofthiscurrentfellowship.
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Whileeachofthecohortoffacultyfellowshadadifferentfocusandadifferentmethodofconvening,ithasbeenpossibletoidentifyfactorsthatcontributetothesuccessofthecohort,andthosethathaveresultedinalackofcohesionand,ultimately,lowerparticipation.Thefirstcohortofengagedfacultywassupportedbyapiecemealbudget,cobbledtogetherbytheUROCexecutivedirector,anditengagedfacultywhostudiedcommunityengagement,butwhodidnotactuallydocommunityengagement.Thesecondcohortsuccessfullyformedanintellectualcommunitybutmetsporadically.Thecohortsparkedindividualmemberstocollaboratewithoneanotheracrosscampusonissuesrelatedtosextradingandtrafficking,creatinggreatercampus-widealignment,butitdidnotresultingroup-levelcommunityengagedefforts.Thecurrentcohort,however,hasbeenthemostsuccessfulatintegratingscholarlyeffortsandcross-campusalignmentwithsustainedcommunityengagement.Itisbelievedthatthissuccessarisesfromthreemainfactors:(1)thecohortwasformedinresponsetoatangibleneedexpressedbythelocalcommunitywithaclearmandateandexpectedproducts;(2)thecohortismadeupofengagedscholarswhoareaccustomedtoworkinginthecomplex,murkily-definedenvironmentthatsurroundsacademicsuccessandunderservedcommunities;(3)asmallamountoffundingandcoordinationsupportforthegroupswasprovided.Althoughsomeinternalfundinghasprovidedone-timefundingforourfellows,tobemosteffectiveinourwork,UROCwouldneedaconsistentfundingsourcetobenefitfacultyfellows.WehaveinitiateddiscussionswithuniversitydevelopmentaboutapossibleEngagedResearchChairaswellasengagedscholarshipforgraduatestudents.OurcolleaguesatBrightonUniversityfundanengagedscholarsabbatical,providingthegappayforfacultytotakealeavefromregulardutiesandworkfull-timeforayearondevelopingasanengagedscholar.LookingForward:CommunityofPracticeandtheEngagedResearchLabTheEngagedResearchLab(ERL)isanewinitiativeatUROCthatlaunchedin2016.Itsgenesisarisesfromrecognitionthatengagedresearchdoesnotsimply“happen”;rather,researchersmustdevelopknowledgeandskillstoapplyspecificmethodsandpracticesinengagedresearch.Thisdevelopmenthappensbestinthecontextofiterativepracticeandreflectionwithacohortoffellowtravelers.TheproposedmodeloftheERLwillusefourprimarystrategiestodevelopacommunityofengagedresearchpractitioners:
1. Orientingresearcherstoengagedresearch,UROC,andtheNorthside.ThiscomponentintroducesstudentsandstafftobothUROCandtheNorthMinneapoliscommunity.Italsooffersparticipantsanintroductiontothetheoriesandmethodsaroundengagedresearch.
2. PIlearningcircles,whichgiveresearchersopportunitiestodeepentheirengagedresearchpracticeandreflectontheirwork.Learningcircleswillbedirectedbytheparticipantsthemselves,andisintendedtocultivateascholarlycommunitywithinthebuilding.Ourfirstyearstartsinthefallof2016andwilllikelyfocusontheorizingandbuildingmodelsforre-conceptualizingtheresearchencounterbetweenresearchersandparticipantsandexploringresearchas“practice”.Weenvisionmodeldevelopment,experimentation,trialandlearning,andpublication.
3. Formalizedlearningopportunitiesforstudentresearchersthatsupportdevelopmentofengagedresearchcompetencies.Thesecompetenciesincludecommunityengagementskillsandanunderstandingofthefoundationofengagedresearchapproaches.TheselearningopportunitieswillincludetheJosieJohnsonUROCDissertationFellowsprogram,aswellasopportunitiestoworkonUROCresearchprojects.
4. Researchonengagedresearchapproachesforthepurposesofdevelopingmodelsfor,andmeasuringtheimpactof,engagedresearch.
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InshiftingfromafocusonmainlyformallearningopportunitiestoablendofformalandinformalcommunitybuildingopportunitiesofferedbytheERL,UROCisbroadeningtheimpactofitsengagedresearchemphasisontheUMTCcommunity.BylaunchingtheERL,UROCwillprovideinfrastructureforengagedresearchthatwillsupporttheUMTC’sabilitytodohigh-impactresearchforthepublicgoodbybuildingthecapacityofstudents,facultyandstafftoengagecommunitiesthroughresearch.UROCwillcontinuetoiterativelyrefineitsmethodsforengagingwith/bridgingbetweenacademicdepartments,communityorganizations,andcross-disciplinaryresearch.AspartofourfocusondisseminationUROCisintheprocessofdevelopinganewdiscussionformat,modeledsomewhatona“freshairradio”styleofinterview.WearelookingforwaystodeveloppithyandpublicallyaccessiblesharingofinformationontopicsrelevanttotheUMNandbroadercommunities.SimilartoourCriticalConversationseries,weenvisionbuildingandinvolvingthought-leadersfromthecampusandcommunity.WearecurrentlyexploringanemergingpartnershipwiththeUniversityofMinnesotapublicrelationsandMinnesotaPublicRadio.VI. RESOURCES A. OFFICESPACE(LOCATION,SIZE,ANDQUALITY)
UROCoccupiesarefurbishedstripmallattheintersectionofPennAvenueandPlymouthAvenueNorthinNorthMinneapolis.Thebuildingis22,700squarefeet,withover14,322squarefeetofusableofficeandmeetingroomspace.Therefurbishingofthespacewascompletedinfallof2009,withthegrandopeningtakingplaceinspringof2010.MaintenanceofthebuildingiscontractedthroughUMTCFacilitiesManagementandUMTCClassroomServices.Thegroundsandsnowremovalaremaintainedthroughanexternalvendorfromthecommunity,asarethejanitorialservices.UtilizinglocalvendorsispartofUROC’spromisetothecommunitytobeagoodneighborandtosupportNorthMinneapoliseconomicdevelopment.
B. OFFICEANDRESEARCHSPACEUROC’sdedicatedresearchandofficespacetotalsover6,100squarefeet,dividedbetweenassignedoffices,sharedcollaborationspaceandhotelingspace.SpaceisassignedbasedonprojectneedsthroughtheUROCaffiliationprocess.C. SPECIALFACILITIES(PUBLICSPACE)TheUROCfacilityisdividedbetweenresearch/officespaceand“public”spacethatcanbeusedbymembersofthepublic.Theresearchspaceisdescribedabove.Forpublicspace,UROChasanartgallery(withapart-timecurator),ahospitalitystation,areceptionarea,largemeetingspace(1,800sq.feet),twoclassrooms,a“boardroom”,andasuiteofofficeslocatedinthepublicsideofthebuilding.D. STAFFPOSITIONSUROCcurrentlyemploysthreefulltimeProfessionalandAdministrativeclassemployees;theDirectorofResearch,theDirectorofOutreachandEngagementandtheDirectorofAdministrationandProjects.TheDirectorofResearchis“soft”funded.UROC’sExecutiveDirectoriscurrentlya.40FTEposition.Therewillbetwoadditional.25FTEpositionsinfiscalyear2017forthefacultyleadsengagedineducationandlifelonglearningandhealthandcommunitywellness,onefromtheHumphreySchoolofPublicAffairsandtheotherfromtheSchoolofSocialWork.TherearethreefulltimeAdministrative
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Specialistpositionsthatsupporttheoperationsofthebuilding,rentalofUROCmeetingspaceandprojectsupport.UROCemploysa.25FTEArtsandSpecialProjectsCoordinatorthatservesasgallerycurator.Finally,UROC’sITneedsaremetthrougha.25FTEpositionsharedwiththeCollegeofEducationandHumanDevelopment.AdditionalsupportisprovidedthroughcentraladministrationandtheProvost’soffice,includingaHumanResourcesManager,aFinancialAnalyst,andaSeniorPublicRelationsConsultant.UROCalsohiresgraduateassistants,undergraduatestudentsandcommunitymembersforprojectsandevents.F.TOTALBUDGET–ALLSOURCES(DETAILSPROVIDEDINTHEAPPENDIX)UROC’stotalbudgetforfiscalyear2016was$1,389,944.Carryforwardforthecentertotaled$650,719enteringfiscalyear2016.Expenditurestotaled$1,480,673,asUROCspent$90,729incarryforwardfundinginadditiontothefiscalyearbudget.UROC’sO&Mbudgetallocationincreasedfrom$829,817infiscalyear2016to$836,970forfiscalyear2017.Carryforwardforfiscalyear2017is$534,185.UROCisawaitingtheawardofseveralfederal,stateandphilanthropicfundingrequestsforfiscalyear2017.UROC’sO&Mallocationwas$640,836forfiscalyear2012.Itincreasedby2.5%eachyearthroughfiscalyear2014.Astafflinewasaddedinfiscalyear2014fortheDirectorofAdministrationandProjectsposition.Previously,thispositionhadbeenfundedthroughone-timefunding,or“soft”money.Alargeincreasetotheannualbudgetwasawardedinfiscalyear2015,asUROCcontractedforon-sitesecuritytocomplywithUniversitysafetyrecommendationsmadebytheUniversityofMinnesotaPoliceDepartment.VII . ORGANIZATIONALSTRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE, ANDMANAGEMENT A . ORGANIZATIONALCHARTORSCHEMATIC INCLUDINGREPORTINGSTRUCTURE PleaseseetheappendixfortheorganizationalchartC . LEADERSHIP(DIRECTORANDOTHERRELEVANTLEADERS) RESPONSIBIL ITIES, SELECTIONANDREVIEWPROCESS, ANDCONTINGENCYPLANSFORREPLACEMENT. UROC,withadualroleofbuildingmanagementandengagement,hasworkedovertimetoestablishtwoteams;adirectorsteamandanoperationsteam.TheDirectorsteamincludestheexecutivedirector,andthedirectorsofadministration,research,outreach,andcommunication.Thedirectorsteamisledbytheexecutivedirector.Theoperationsteamincludes3full-timeAdministrativestaffaswellasthedirectorsofadministrationandoutreachwhoco-leadtheteam.TheUROC’sfirstexecutivedirectorwasappointedbyUMTC’sSeniorVicePresidentwithoversightofUROC.Thecurrentexecutivedirectorpositionoccurredthroughasearchandreviewprocess.Thesearchcommitteewasmadeupofuniversityandcommunityrepresentativesandincludedacommunitypresentation.Thedirectorsofadministration,researchandoutreachwerealsosearchesdonethroughuniversityhumanresourceswithrecommendationsfromareviewcommitteeofuniversityrepresentatives.
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D) INTERNALANDEXTERNALADVISORYBOARD(S) COMPOSITIONANDROLE
UROChasbeenguidedbystrongcommunityanduniversityinputandwillcontinuetoengageinbroadparticipation.SustainedinputfromthecommunityoccursthroughourCommunityAffairsCommittee(CAC)whichcontinuestokeepusconnectedtocommunityideasandneeds.By2015,UROChadestablishedaneffectiveoperationalinfrastructureandhadsufficientgrowthtopromptustoseektheexpertise,wisdomandinfluenceofanExecutiveAdvisoryCommittee(EAC).Afterbroadconsultationwithbothuniversityandcommunityinput,theexecutivedirectorestablishedalistofindividualswithstrongstandinginthecommunity,expertise,andinfluencethatcouldfurtherdevelopUROC.TheEACisnotagoverningbody.Rather,theEACisacollectionofindividualswhobringuniqueknowledgeandskillsthatarevalue-addedtotheknowledgeandskillsoftheorganization.TheroleoftheEACistobringtheirexperienceandexpertisetoinfluencethefuturedirectionofUROC,supportthemissionandgoalsofUROC,proactivelysharetheworkofUROCwithothersintheirnetworks,strategizewaysinwhichtosupportUROCfinancially,andtosupportthegrowthandimpactofUROC.TheEAChasmettwice.ThefirstmeetinginOctober2015providedcommitteemembersanintroductiontoUROCandofferedanopportunityformemberstogettoknowoneanother.ThesecondmeetingwasinMay2016,whensignatureprojectswerediscussedinmoredetail.AfullEACmembershipisprovidedintheappendices.AsecondUROCboardistheCommunityAffairsCommittee(CAC)whichwasformallyestablishedNovember15,2006.TodaytheCACmembersconsistofNorthsideresidents;communityandfaith-basedorganizations;localbusinesses;UniversityofMinnesotafaculty,staff,andstudents;,andrepresentativesfromthecityofMinneapolisandHennepinCounty.Todate,theCAChasservedasaforumforparticipantstogaininformationabouttheUniversity’sengagementeffortsinNorthMinneapolis,shareknowledgeandresources,allowtheNorthsidecommunitytovoiceitscriticismsandoffersuggestions,exchangeinformation,andfacilitatethedevelopmentofnewpartnershipsasawaytopromoteconsistentandtransparenttwo-waycommunicationthatwillstrengthencommunityanduniversitypartnerships.TheCACisco-chairedbyacommunitymemberandtheUROCdirectorofoutreach.
E.FACULTYMEMBERSHIP(ACTIVEPARTICIPANTSINCENTER/INSTITUTEACTIVITIES)
1)SELECTIONANDREVIEWPROCESSFORMEMBERSHIP/PARTICIPATIONUROCengagesfacultyfrommorethan35academicprogramsacrosstheUMTCcampus.Afulllistisprovidedintheappendices.WehavemultiplewaysforfacultytoaligntheirworkwithUROC.ThisincludestheUROCaffiliationprocess,wherefaculty(andotherUMTCprincipalinvestigatorsandprogramdirectors)can“officially”aligntheirworkwithUROCanduseUROCfacilities,contributingandcapitalizingonUROC’smission.AsofJuly2016,wehave65projectsalignedwithUROC.StartingintheFallof2016,researchactivitiesineachofthethreeUROCpriorityareaswillbecoordinatedbyafacultyorstafflead:YinglingFan,associateprofessorintheHumphreySchoolofPublicAffairswillleadtheeconomicandcommunitydevelopmentefforts;KatieJohnston-Goodstar,assistantprofessorintheSchoolofSocialWorkwillleadaroundeducationandlifelonglearning;LaurenMartin,UROCResearcharethedirectorwillleadeffortsinhealthandwellness.
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Theaffiliationprocess1. Meetwithdirectorsofresearchandoutreachtodetermineprojectfitwiththemission
andgoalsofUROC.Duringthismeetingexpectationsandresponsibilitiesforfaculty/universityunit/communityorganization,membership/participationandUROC’srole,communitybenefit,anddisseminationarediscussed.*
2. Completeaffiliationsurvey.*3. Whenmissionsalign,thefaculty/universityunit/communityorganizationmeetswiththe
directorofadministrationtodeterminespaceneedsandavailability.4. Unitreceiveskeys,accessandabuildingorientationwiththeoperationsteam.5. UnitattendsKnowNorthOrientationheldonceinthefall,springandsummer.6. Facultysubmitmembership/participationnumbers,includingsummarystatisticsby
collegeandacademicrank7. Eachprojectwillmeetannuallywithresearchandoutreachtoteamtosharelearnings,
newdirectionsandupdates.*stepsoneandtwoareinterchangeableThereareapproximately50UMNfacultymembersengagedinthemission-drivenworkofUROC.WehavefacultyfrommanydifferentschoolsandcollegesacrosstheUMTC,includingCollegeofLiberalArts,theSchoolofSocialWork,CollegeofEducationandHumanDevelopment,InstituteforChildDevelopment,HumphreySchoolofPublicAffairs,SchoolofNursing,PublicHealth,FamilyMedicineandCommunityHealth,CarlsonSchoolofManagement,andtheCollegeofDesign.FacultyinvolvementisapriorityforUROC.InordertomeetUROC’smissionitisessentialtoengage,supportanddevelopfacultyworkinallofUROC’sthreecoreareas.UROC’spurposeistoserveasinfrastructureandcapacity-buildingforfaculty,studentsandstaff.Thus,thenumberoffacultywhoengageinUROC’scoreprogrammingandbringtheirownresearchandoutreachactivitiesisafoundationalmeasureofthesuccessofUROC.FacultyareengagedinUROCinavarietyofrolesincludingleadershipofUROC,developmentofUROC’sresearchenterprise,PrincipalInvestigatorsaffiliatedwithUROC,contributorstoUROC’soutreachandengagementprogramsandmore.Theexpectationsandresponsibilitiesforfacultyparticipationandaffiliationareasfollows:
(1)theirworkalignswiththebroadprinciplesofUROC’smissionandvalues;Andthatthey:(2)conductethicalandrelevantengagedscholarship(3)conductresearchinpartnershipwithacommunityentity(foraffiliatedresearchprojects)(4)possessawillingnesstohelpdevelopmodelsandparticipateintheintellectuallifeofUROC.
FacultyareinvitedtoparticipateinallaspectsofUROC’sprojectsandprogramming,includingasfeaturedspeakers,contentcontributors,partnersinUROC’ssignaturework,leadingUROCprogrammaticefforts,andservingontheExecutiveAdvisoryCommittee.FormalaffiliationofaprojectwithUROCisathreestepprocessthatinvolvesaninformationalmeeting,completionofashortdocumentationform,andreviewbytheDirectorsteamtomakesurethereisappropriatealignmentwithUROC’sprinciplesandmission.Theprimarycriteriaarethatprojecthasacommunitypartner,usessomeformofengagedresearch/scholarship,paysattentiontodisseminationatallprojectphases,and
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thatthecontentandscopefitsinatleastoneofUROC’spriorityareas,andthePIdemonstratesacommitmenttoenhancingthepublicgood.AfulllistoffacultyinvolvementatUROC,includingdepartment,rankandroleatUROC,isprovidedintheappendix.VII I . EVIDENCEOFNATIONALANDINTERNATIONAL IMPACT
Anchorinstitutionsarefrequentlydescribedas“place-based”institutions3that“bringtogethereconomicandfinancialassets,humanresources,andphysicalstructures”4.Anchorinstitutionsdrawtheiridentitiestoalargedegreefromtheirurbanlocationsandcontributetotheeconomicstabilityoftheirsurroundingcommunities.Non-profitandfor-profitinstitutionscanallactasanchorinstitutions,providingemploymentopportunities,creatingmarketsforgoodsandservices,andpartneringwithotherinstitutionsandbusinessestodevelopnewpartnershipsandeconomic,andcultural,andeducationalopportunitieswithincommunities.5TaylorandLuterfurtherrefinethedefinitionofanchorinstitutionsbysuggestingthatanauthenticanchorinstitutionshouldhaveasocialjusticemissionthatallowsittoactasa“changeagent”withinitssurroundingcommunity.6Urbanuniversitiesareuniquelypositionedtoactasauthenticanchorinstitutionsintheircommunities.Universitieshavetraditionallyplayedaroleinurbandevelopmentasthe“eds”of“eds&meds”--institutesofhighereducationandmedicalcentersthatbothprovideamarketforgoodsandservicesandgeneratejobsforarearesidents.7Whilejobcreationthroughhiringlocalresidentsisaninstrumentalcontributiontolocalcommunities,universitiesareincreasinglyleveragingtheirgeographiclocationstocultivatepartnershipsandsustainedrelationshipswiththeirsurroundingcommunitiestoachievebenefitsthatextendbeyondemployment.Thisnewfocusonmoremeaningfulengagementwithsurroundingcommunitiescomesfromagrowingunderstandingthatincreasedeconomicwell-beingdoesnotnecessarilyperpetuateindividualandsocialwell-being,andthatdevelopmentofacommunityisdifferentandmoreimpactfulthandevelopmentinacommunity.8Tothisend,someurbanuniversitiesarereachingouttotheirgeographiccommunities,workingwithlocalneighborhoodorganizationstofindwaystomeetlocalneeds.Moreimportantly,universitiesarefindingwaystoco-produceknowledgewithcommunitiesthatleadtostrategiesforaddressingpressingcommunityconcerns.Forexample,theNetterCenterattheUniversityofPennsylvaniafocusesondevelopingmutually-beneficialpartnershipswithcommunityorganizationstoaddresscommunity
3 Birch, E., Perry, D. C., & Taylor Jr, H. L. (2013). Universities as anchor institutions. Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement, 17(3), 7-16. 4 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2013). Building resiliency: The role of anchor institutions in sustaining community economic development. Retrieved from https://www.huduser.gov/publications/pdf/AnchorInstitutions.pdf 5 Ehlenz, M. M., Birch, E. L., & Agness, B. (2014). The Power of Eds and Meds: Urban Universities Investing in Neighborhood Revitalization and Innovation Districts. Penn Institute for Urban Research. 6Taylor, H. T., & Luter, D. G. (2013). Anchor institutions: An interpretive essay. Anchor Institutions Task Force. 7 Harkavy, I. R., & Zuckerman, H. (1999). Eds and meds: Cities' hidden assets. Brookings Institution, Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy. 8 Bridger, J. C., & Alter, T. R. (2007). The engaged university, community development, and public scholarship. Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement, 11(1), 163-178.
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concerns,resultinginthedevelopmentofnewcoursesforUniversitystudentsandnewprogramsandinitiativesforthesurroundinggeographiccommunityofWestPhiladelphia9.TheBarbaraWeitzCommunityEngagementCenterattheUniversityofNebraskaatOmahaprovidesadiscrete,dedicated,on-campusspacefortheuniversity’soutreachandengagementefforts;thebuildingprovidesofficespaceforcommunitypartnerorganizations,publicmeetingspaces,andacentralizedlocationforstudentsseekingvolunteeropportunities.10TheTD-YorkCommunityEngagementCentreatYorkUniversityislocatedoff-campusinashoppingcenterintheJane-FinchneighborhoodofTorontoandoffersavarietyofacademicandlifelonglearningopportunities,bothforYorkUniversitystudentsandlocalresidents.UROCsharescharacteristicsandstrategieswiththeinstitutionsdescribedabove,yetitisuniqueinmanyways.UROCisgeographicallysituatedinNorthMinneapolis,approximately4mileswestofthemainUMTCcampus,intheheartofahistoricallyAfrican-Americancommunitythattodayishometoawidediversityofculturalgroups.Thebuildingitselfhousesofficesusedbyresearchandoutreachteamsandbycommunity-basedorganizations,anartgallery,andmeetingspacesavailableforusebythepublic.UROCisadedicatedspaceforprojectsthatareinitiatedinpartnershipwithcommunitymembersororganizations,anditisphysicallylocatedinthecommunityinwhichmanyprojectsarebased.UROCisaUniversityresearchcenterthatfacesoutwardaswellasinwardtowardthescholarlycommunity;itprovidesspaceforthecommunity,butitisnotaservicecenter;itisaplacewherestudentscanengagewithresearchandwithNorthMinneapolis,butitisnotadispensaryforservicelearningopportunities. UROCisrelativelyyoungasaresearch/outreachengagementcenter,anditscombinationofcharacteristicsandmodesofoperationarefairlynovel;assuch,theidentificationandmeasurementofUROC’simpactsisonlybeginningtoemerge.Theseimpactscanbedividedintotwomaincategories:theimpactofknowledgesurfacedbythework,andtheimpactoftheapproach/orientationtothework.ImpactofWorkBecauseworkatUROCisconductedincollaborationwithcommunitypartners,itisaction-oriented,withafocusonimpactingthelocalcommunity.Someexamplesofprojectsthatarehavingalocalimpactare:
TraumaRecoveryProject:TheTraumaRecoveryProject(TRP)isaNorthsideinitiatedpartnershiptoimpactthrivingcommunitiesbyreducingandpreventingtrauma.Itisaninclusive,participatoryandstrengths-focusedprocessfacilitatedbyUROC.WehavesurfacedwisdomfromwithinNorthMinneapolis,developedinnovativesolutionstotraumaprevention/recoveryandhavebuiltsometrustamongimportantresourcesinthecommunity.TheTRPisafreshapproachtotraumabecauseitdoesnotseektocreateaprogramorprovideservice.Rather,itisaprocesstobuildcollectiveunderstandingandsharedcommunity-basedsolutions.Stakeholdershadcommitted1.5yearsbeforetherewasfundingavailable.Aswecompletethepreparationformaintenanceandsustainabilityofthreeofthestakeholdergroupsweareconfidentthecommunityhasastrengthenedabilitytohealandrespondtotrauma.
9 Netter Center for Community Partnerships. (2014). Partners for Change. Retrieved from https://www.nettercenter.upenn.edu/sites/netter_internal/files/Netter_Center_Case_Statement_2014.pdf 10 Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved from http://www.unomaha.edu/community-engagement-center/faq/
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NorthsideJobCreationTeam:LedbyacommunitymemberwithsupportfromUROC,theNJCThasgrownintoacoalitionof32membersrepresentingthecommunity,theuniversity,andcivicleadership.Throughthecoalition’swork,905livingwagejobshavebeencreatedinNorthMinneapolissince2012.SexTradingandTraffickingInitiative:Launchedin2011withacommunityconversation,thisinitiativelayersfindingsandmethodsfromover10distinctresearchprojectstobuildnewknowledgeaboutcommercialsexanditsnegativeconsequencesforhealthandcommunitywellbeinginMinneapolisandMinnesota.Researchconductedthroughthisinitiativehashelpedpassnewlegislation,raisedpublicawareness,changedlawenforcementtrainingandpractices,informedvictim-services,shapedphilanthropy,helpedbuildastatewidesystem,andmore.Theinitiativeconductsresearchandproducespublicpresentationsandhigh-impactreports.
ImpactofApproach Thewaysinwhichresearch,partnership,andengagementareconductedatUROCbuildonanexistingfoundationofengagedscholarship.UROC’sprinciplesarethoseofengagedscholarship:mutualbenefitforacademicandcommunitypartners,transparencyofmethodsandpractices,disseminationoffindings,actiontakenonthosefindings,and,ultimately,transformationoftheUniversity,oftheNorthMinneapoliscommunity,andextendingmetro-widecommunities.Becauseofitsphysicalandreputationalpositioninthecommunity,UROCcansupportsustainedworkonissues,resultingincyclicalactionresearchthathasthepotentialtodelvedeeplytoilluminaterootcausesofcomplexissues.Thiscombinationofassetsisrelativelyunusualandalsohasthepotentialtosupportthedevelopmentofnewapproachesinengagedresearch.ThenewEngagedResearchLab,whichhasdevelopedoutofourexperiencesandreflection,willfocusexplicitlyondevelopingcapacitiesforconductingthistypeofresearch,testingmodelsofengagement,anddocumentinganddisseminatingfindings.UROC’smodelofengagementandresearchhasthepotentialtoinfluenceapproachestoresearch,notonlyatUMTCbutatuniversitiesaroundthecountry.UROCisnotsimplyaspaceforhousingengagedresearch--itisanexperimentinsharingphysicalspacewiththelocalcommunities.Sharingspacerequiresbeingadaptive,adjustingwaysofworking,andquestioningassumptions.UROCcancontributenewperspectivesonwhatitmeanstodoengagedresearchinthisuniquesettingandinfluencethefieldofengagedscholarship.IX . VISIONSTATEMENT VisionOverthelongterm,UROCwillbuildthriving,innovative,andrespectfulcollaborationsforahealthyandvibrantNorthMinneapolis,createnewmodelsofurbanandcommunitydevelopment,andstrengthentheUniversityofMinnesotaasavitallyengaged21st-centuryuniversityservingthepublicgood.Astrategicplanningprocesswasconductedin2009aspartoftheUROCFuturesConference.Datafromthisconference,aswellasfromthepre-conferenceplanningprocessandfrompost-conferencefocusgroupsandstrategicplanningeventswasusedtodevelopaSWOTanalysisoffactorsthatwouldimpacttheimplementationofUROC’sstrategicplan.TheinterplayofthesefactorscontinuestostronglyinfluenceUROC’sabilitytoachieveitsvisionforthefuture.Inaddition,UROCworkedwiththe
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EvaluationStudiesprogramatUMTCtodevelopalogic-modelthatprovidesbenchmarksforlivingintothemissionandvisionofUROC.UROCdrawsonavarietyofstrengthsthatstemnotonlyfromitsconnectionwithalargeresearchuniversity,butalsofromthestrongtiesUROChas,andcontinuestoform,withurbancommunities,includingtheNorthMinneapoliscommunity,throughitspartnership-buildingefforts.A)PERCEIVEDCURRENTANDLONG-TERMSTRENGTHS,WEAKNESSES,OPPORTUNITIES,ANDCHALLENGESStrengthsAmongUROC’sstrengthsareanacknowledgementoftheurgencyofthemanyissuescausedbyandstemmingfromdisparityanddisinvestmentinurbancommunitiesinMinnesotaandacrosstheUnitedStates.UROChastremendouspotentialtoaddresstheseissuesbydrawingontheexpertiseandcapacityfoundwithintheUMTC’snumerousacademicdepartmentsandresearchfacilities.However,UROC’sstrengthalsoliesinitsrecognitionthatexpertiseandcapacityexistsoutsidetheUniversity,andthatthisknowledgeandknow-howresidewithinthecommunitiesmostaffectedbychallenges.ThecommunityfeelsrecognizedbytheUniversity,andasaresultiswillingtoengagewithUROCastheUniversity’srepresentativeineffortstorebuildtrustandstrengthenrelationships.ThecommunityhasclearlyexpresseditsexpectationsofUROCandtheUniversityandmonitorsUROC’sworkandresponsestocommunitystrugglesaswellascelebratesoursuccesses.WeaknessesAlongwithstrengths,UROChaspotentialweaknessesthatstemlargelyfromitsexistenceasaunitthatmustfunctionwithinamuchlargerinstitution.Manydisparatepiecesmustbe“inplace”foranyprocesstobeginsuchthatitcanbechallengingforUROCtobeagileandresponsivetoopportunitiesastheyarise.Further,eventhoughUROChasaccesstoavastbodyofacademicexpertise,mobilizingthatexpertiseisinhibitedaneedforstrongercommunicationamongcentraladministrativeunits,academicdepartments,andresearchunits.ItisnotclearhowmanyuniversityentitiesunderstandthetypesofresearchthatoccurorarepossibleatUROC,nordoesthelargerUniversityunderstandtheuniqueroleandrelationshipsUROCmaintainswithintheNorthMinneapoliscommunity.Theseinternalchallenges,coupledwiththesometimesoverwhelmingvolumeofcommunityneeds,limitUROC’scapacitytomeetallcommunityneeds.OpportunitiesUROChasnumerousopportunitiestotransformhowtheUMTCengageswithcommunities.ItsformationhasinessencecreatedavisiblepointofaccessbetweentheUMTCandtheNorthMinneapoliscommunity.ThisaccesspointcreatesopportunitiesforbuildingcapacitywithintheUniversityandwithinthecommunitytoengagewithoneanotherandtoconductaction-orientedresearchforcommunitybenefit.Thisaccessalsogivesthecommunityanopportunitytohelpsetprioritiesforresearch,andtoshapethenarrativeofbothchallengesandassetsthatexistinNorthMinneapolisandacrossurbancommunitiesmoregenerally.WhatwelearnspecificallyrelatedtoourneighborsinNorthMinneapolishasthepotentialtobenefitmultipleurbancommunitiesthathaveacommoncontext.UROChasworkedtoandhassuccessfullyexpandedourinteractionswithorganizationsandcommunitiesinSouthMinneapolisandStPaul.Attentiontocontextissomethingweconsiderimperativetogrowingtheseopportunities.UROChastheopportunitytodemonstratetheUniversity’s
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commitmenttomanyurbancommunitiesthroughongoingdialogueandengagement,andtopotentiallytransformhowtheUniversityworkswithcommunities.KeytotheUMTCstrategicplanandfocusongrandchallengesistheuniversity’stransdisciplinarywork,emphasisonreciprocalengagement,andidentityasanurbanuniversity.UROCprovidesaspaceinwhichintentional,thoughtful,reflectiveengagedscholarshipconnectswithcommunityknowledgeandassetsthatdoesnotshyawayfromurbangrandchallenges.Inaddition,thecurrentUniversityofMinnesotaCapitalCampaignhastheopportunitytoimpactthegrandchallengesthatexistintheurbancore.Inlightofthedisinvestmentintheurbancoreoverthepast30years,committingevenasmallpercentageoftheCapitalCampaignfundshasthepossibilityoftransformingboththeuniversityandthecommunityforthecommongood.ChallengesUROC’schallengesresideinmisunderstandings,lackofcoherencyincommunicationfromtheUniversityasawhole,tosomedegreealackoffactualinformationaboutUROC,anduncertaintyaroundtheUniversity’scommitmenttotheengagedworkthatUROCdoes.TheprimarymisconceptionisthatUROCisa“communitycenter”thathousesdirectserviceprograms.Moreover,someattheuniversitybelievethatengagingwithcommunityisprimarilydonethroughdirectserviceratherthanpartnership.Forthisreason,wearecontinuallycommunicatingthatwearearesearch/outreachengagementcenterwiththeprimarygoalofbringinguniversityresearchresourcestoworkwithcommunitytoaddresscriticalissues.Thischallengeisexacerbatedtosomedegreefromthefactthatresearchisoftensiloedinindividualdisciplines.AlthoughtheUMTChasstrongactivityrelatedtodefiningandunderstandingengagedscholarship,thereremainsastruggleincommunicatingthatunderstandingacrossthecampus.TheUMTC,lackingaclearunderstandingofwhathappensatUROC,isthenlesslikelytocontinuetocommitresourcesthatwillsupportongoingwork.ThelackofclearcommunicationwithintheuniversityalsoimpactsthecommunitywithwhomUROCandtheUniversitymustcontinuallyworktorebuildtrustandcommunicateresearchfindings.WhatismostimpactedbyinternalmisunderstandingisthatUROCmustalsocontinuallyworktodeliveronthepromisestheuniversityhasmadetothecommunityinordertomaintaintrust,anoutcomethatischallenginggivenitsuncertainfundingandcommunicationrelationshipwiththelargerUniversity.Likeallcenters,UROCactivelyworkswithlocalandnationalfunderstosupportourresearchactivities.Wealsohaveincommonwithothercentersthedifficultyoffindingfundingforprogramevaluation,sustainedfundingforimportanteducationalinitiativessuchasfellowshipprogramsforstudents,facultyandcommunity,aswellasnamedchairs.UniquetoUROCistheneedforfundingrelatedtothebuilding.WearecurrentlyworkingwithagraduatestudentandafacultyfromtheCollegeofDesigntoassessspace-use.Wehavefoundthatsomeoftheoriginalpredictionsofhowspacewouldbeusedhavenotbeenrealizedinthelast5years,andthatsomeneedswerenotpredicted.Oncethespaceassessmentiscompleted,fundingtomakesomechangestotheinteriorspacewouldsupportthemosteffectiveuseofthefacility.StrategiestoAchieveUROC’sVisionUROCutilizes5mainstrategiestoworktowarditsvision:partnerships,convening,networking,education,andinfrastructure.ThesestrategiesaddressthepersistentchallengesidentifiedintheSWOTanalysisbyleveragingUROC’sstrengthstotakeadvantageofopportunities.
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Trust-buildingandcommunicationDespiteNorthMinneapolis’historicdistrustoftheUMTCandofotherinstitutionsitseesashavingmisusedandabandoneditinthepast,thecommunityhasexpressedawillingnesstoforgenewrelationshipsandunderstandingswithUROC.Assuch,UROChasbecomeanaccesspointfortheNorthMinneapoliscommunityandfortheUMTC.Throughthedevelopmentofpartnerships,UROCusesitsawarenessoflocalknowledgeanditsconnectionstotheUniversitytobringcommunityleadersandacademicresearcherstogether.Insomecases,UROCfacilitatespartnershipsbetweencommunityorganizationsandacademicdepartments.Inothers,UROCplaystheroleofpartner,workingwithcommunitygroupsdirectlytoaddresslocalconcerns.Opendialoguealsohelpstobuildtrustandincreasecommunication.UROChostsconveningsthatbringtheUniversityandlocalcommunitytogethertodiscusscriticalissues.Theseconveningsraisethevisibilityofissues,buttheyalsoraisethevisibility,bothoftheworkUROCdoes,andoftheassetsandresourcesparticipatingcommunitiespossess.CommunicatingUROC’sworktotheNorthMinneapolisandUMTCcommunitiesisanongoingprocess.Cross-sectorcollaborationUROCengagesinnetworkingwithintheUniversitycommunityandwiththelargergeographiccommunity.NetworkingallowsUROCtofacilitateandpromotemeaningfulrelationshipsbetweenuniversitydepartmentsandcommunityorganizations.ItfurtherilluminatestheuniqueroleUROCplaysinbothcommunities.UROCalsoengagesineducationeffortsaimedbothattheuniversityandthelargercommunity.UROChoststheEngagedScholarshipDissertationFellowsprogram,whichbringstogetherdoctoralstudentsfromavarietyofdisciplinestolearnandreflecttogetheronthemethodsandissuessurroundingcommunity-engagedresearch.UROChasalsosponsoredfellowshipsforfacultywhoareengagedincommunity-basedresearch,withthemostcurrentcohortbeingfocusedoneducationalachievementdisparities.TheseeducationaleffortsareaimedatdevelopingcapacitywithintheUMTCcommunity,buttheyarealsoaimedatbroadeningunderstandingsacrosstheUniversityoftheworkrequiredtosustaincommunitypartnershipsandtoengageinauthentic,community-engagedscholarship.CommitmentandresponsivenessUROCisaunitwithinalargeinstitution;thisrelationshipmeansthatUROChasaccesstotheUniversity’svastresources.However,itcanalsomeanthatthehierarchicalnatureofdecision-making(usedbymanylargeinstitutions)couldinhibitUROC’sabilitytorespondtolocalcommunityconcerns,causingthelocalcommunitytoquestiontheUniversity’scommitment.TheinfrastructureinplacewithinUROCisaimedataddressingtheseconcerns.UROC’sstaffislargelycomprisedofindividualswholiveinNorthMinneapolis--theyrepresentUROCtothecommunitywhilebeingofthecommunity.Similarly,UROC’sworkisguidedinpartbytheCommunityAffairsCommittee(CAC),madeupofcommunityleaders.TheCAC’sleadershipensuresthatUROC’sworkcontinuouslyconnectswithcommunityconcerns.UROCservesasaninfrastructuralelementoftheUniversity,servingresearchersandcommunitymembersinNorthMinneapolis.TheadditionoftheExecutiveAdvisoryCommittee(EAC),whosegoalistohelpusgrowandprogress,willalsocontributetoourspheresofinfluencebothinternallyandexternally.
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B)TOPICSANDQUESTIONSRELATEDTOTHEVISIONFORDISCUSSIONWITHTHESITEVISITTEAM1.HowcanUROCensurethesustainabilityofitssignatureresearchprojectsastheymovefrombeingdrivenbyUROCstafftobeingsupportedbyUROC,butdrivenbycommunitymembersandexternalorganizations?2.WhileUROChasasystemtoreviewitsaffiliatedprogramsonanannualbasis,itlacksaformalpolicytoensurethatitsresidentaffiliatedprogramsareinalignmentwithUROC’smissionandvision.HowdoyousuggestUROCmightgoaboutcreatingareviewprocessthatwouldincludeapolicytosafeguardtheintegrityofUROC’swork?3.UROCispreparingforaleadershiptransitionwiththedepartureofitscurrentExecutiveDirectorHeidiBarajasin2017.HowdoyourecommendUROC’sstaffandrelatedunitsprepareforthetransition?4.WhataretheopportunitiesyouseeforUROC’sfuturegrowth?
