Reports and References - Community Partnerships and Extension Connections Committee Report, April 2003

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Committee
Co-Chairs
Diana Martenson, Organization & Program Development Specialist, University of Minnesota Extension Service
Barbara Muesing, Assistant to the Dean and Director of External Relations, College of Continuing Education

Members
Dale Blyth, Assistant Director, The Center for 4-H Youth Development
Ron James, Director, Center for Business Ethics, University of St. Thomas
Jennifer Hawkins, Humphrey Institute Student
Laurel Hirt, Coordinator, Community Involvement and Service Learning, Career and Community Learning Center
Mary Vogel, Director, Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships, Program Director, College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture
Vikki Howard, Community Relations Coordinator, Department of American Indian Studies

Committee Charge

• Identify the external groups, organizations, and institutions to which the university should be connected as partners in mutually beneficial relationships
• Recommend a process for establishing, assessing, and terminating community partnerships
• Study the relationship of Extension to core University units and activities.

Update
The Committee met to review the two proposals funded by the Council.

1. Community  University Partnership Typology
The Committee contracted with Jeanne Freiburg to staff the project. She has met with a wide range of people from the Council and from across the University to gather background information and to ensure that the committee is aware of previous effort that relates to the project. Goals have been refined as follows:

• provide a front door for communities, university students, staff and faculty wishing to explore community/university partnerships
• present examples of existing community/university partnerships that may be used as models for future partnership arrangements
• help broker new community/university partnerships
• provide a source of current data about existing community/university partnerships

The work completed by the 2002 Civic Engagement Task Force Community Connections Committee has helped the 2003 Committee identify community/university partnerships as the basis for the typology. A report is expected by May 2003.

2. Strengthening the University Community Connection
The Committee reviewed plans for this project to connect with the Community Assistantship Program (CAP). Several CAP proposals have been identified as possible opportunities to place students in communities with Extension faculty advising students or providing on-site coordination and support. A student will also be employed through the Center for Small Towns at the UMM on a research project focused on community engagement opportunities. Diana Martenson is providing leadership for the project. Next steps are to confirm project sites, refine goals for each, and post research assistantship positions.