The ITGA's annual City & University Relations Conference is next month in beautiful State College, Pa.-home of Penn State University-featuring diverse campuses, communities, speakers and presentations. Key reminders and deadlines: Registration rates increase April 15, and registration closes May 6. Attendees will receive registration information for mobile sessions May 7, the schedule-at-a-glance will be on our website soon. Professional development opportunities start Sunday, May 19. In addition to the Certificate in Town-Gown Relations (Level I and II), there will be walking and networking tours, and a community services project, details forthcoming. For a preview of this year's world-class conference keynoters, access www.itga.org. We hope to see you in State College in May!

Many colleges have boards and initiatives that focus on town-gown relations and research- say, a public-service graduation requirement or a commitment to purchase and hire from neighborhoods around the campus. But few community members actually play roles in leading or shaping those projects, according to a new report analyzing 100 urban college and university partnerships with their cities. That needs to change, argues the "Field Guide for Urban University-Community Partnerships," published on Wednesday by the University of Virginia's Thriving Cities Lab. As one example of how local voices can make decisions, the report points to the University of Utah's Hartland Partnership Center. The Chronicle of Higher Education

It's only about five miles from the Stony Brook campus to downtown Port Jefferson, but those five miles can seem like 500 when there's no simple and convenient way to get there, especially in cold or inclement weather. To help make the attractions of Port Jefferson easily and safely accessible to students and employees, the University has partnered with the Port Jefferson Village to provide a free shuttle between the two locations. The Shuttle was initiated by Mayor Margot Garant with support from the Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, the Pro-Port Jefferson Association Restaurant Group and Stony Brook University's Government and Community Relations Office. Stony Brook News

Cornell's Office of Community Relations held its annual regional town-gown conference last week, with a focus on transportation. It was a spectacular success. In welcoming remarks with the City of Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick, Joel Malina, Cornell's vice president for university relations said, "Transportation is so critical to the work Cornell does in partnership with the city and with our surrounding communities. Among many stellar conference components, colleagues from Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit shared how their award-winning transit system is the backbone of connectivity among an array of needed alternatives. A closing panel discussion on e-bikes and scooters by Steve Patterson, mayor of Athens, Ohio, (home of Ohio University), discussed "Electronic Scooters in Town-Gown Environments." Tompkins Weekly

After staggering to just three courses per semester, Educational Outreach is now offering over 50 non-credit personal development courses for this semester. The influx of courses aims to forge connections between campus and the surrounding areas. Topics of these courses vary, bringing in learners of all ages, including SIUE students and members of the surrounding community. Currently, course include languages, Genealogy Research and Breads of the World, which is held at Artisan 222 Bakery. Leslie Brock, Assistant Director of Non-Credit Programs for Educational Outreach, said the only stipulation on topics pertains to conflict with a degree-seeking program or a credit course currently or potentially being offered. The Alestle