Penn State Making Progress as an "Engaged" Land Grant University
University Park, PA. - While state and land-grant universities were created to engage in activities that improve the lives of citizens, many agree that they could do more to connect with their communities. Over the past decade, Penn State has increased its efforts to develop mutually beneficial university-community collaborations.
In a study just published in the journal Innovative Higher Education, Penn State received excellent marks for developing, translating, and delivering information and services to the people of Pennsylvania in ways that are helping to solve complex social problems like poverty, obesity, and environmental decline.
According to Dr. Keith Aronson, assistant director of the Social Science Research Institute, and Dr. Nicole Webster, assistant professor of Agricultural and Extension Education, who co-led the study, "There is good evidence to suggest that Penn State's faculty and students are creating knowledge that actually finds its way into the fabric of the lives of Pennsylvania's residents. For example, research conducted at Penn State has impacted Pennsylvania's schools, families, healthcare, agriculture, and many other segments of society."
The study results are based on interviews conducted with key leaders from Penn State central administration and student groups, and Penn State faculty members. All were asked about their experiences in connecting to communities through their teaching, research, service, and learning activities. The researchers also gathered information from the websites of Penn State organizations charged with developing and executing the engagement mission. Finally, a number of social science research projects housed at Penn State that include a significant community engagement component were examined in detail.
The study concluded that much of the credit for improved engagement with Pennsylvania's communities belongs to Penn State President Graham Spanier, whose decisions and planning have brought the University closer to Pennsylvania's citizens, rewarded interdisciplinary research and outreach, and provided infrastructure supports to assist faculty and students connect with communities.
The article can be viewed online at: http://www.springerlink.com/content/w48425h3182370h5/fulltext.pdf (.pdf document).
Contact:
Keith R. Aronson, Ph.D.
814-865-6909
kra105@psu.edu
This press release courtesy of Penn State's Department of Public Information
Last modified: 09/10/07 | Contact Webmaster
