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Campus-Community Connections
The official newsletter of the International Town & Gown Association™ May 13, 2021
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ITGA 2021 Virtual Conference Update
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The pandemic has impacted every aspect of life, including the delicate, symbiotic relationship between college campuses and the communities they reach. Solutions and recommendations for improving those connections are needed. The International Town & Gown Association (ITGA), the leading organization for guidance and foremost authority for navigating the changing landscape, is convening their annual conference to better prepare its members for the future of town/gown relations. The ITGA 2021 virtual conference will be hosted by the City of Milwaukee and Marquette University from May 24-26. To see the schedule at a glance, click here. To register, visit itga.org. HURRY! Registration closes in less than two weeks.
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Ohio University to Co-Host Town-Gown Summit
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City of Athens, OH: Ohio University and the City of Athens will co-host the fifth annual Ohio Town and Gown Association Summit July 14-15. The Summit, happening virtually, will bring together municipal, community, and higher education leaders from across the state to discuss and explore best practices to strengthen town-gown partnerships, showcase innovative collaborative programs and projects, and share strategies for community and economic development.Presentation proposals are being accepted until May 31. The call for proposals can be accessed here. Key themes of the Summit include: best practices for campus and community partnerships, demographic shifts and racial equity in campus communities, COVID-19 response and recovery, and campus and community strategies for climate change and sustainable infrastructure planning. Ohio University News
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Institutions Face Decisions on Covid Vaccinations
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Canada: The University of British Columbia has announced that it does not plan on requiring students to prove they have been vaccinated, while the University of Toronto is still considering whether to make COVID-19 vaccines mandatory. The topic is being debated at an international level as well: Times Higher Education reported in mid-April that several institutions in the US and Israel were requiring vaccines, and that a survey of students in the UK revealed support for vaccination requirements; and CNN reported last week that over 100 colleges and universities in the US had announced that they would require vaccinations. Academica Group
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Cities on the Forefront of Economic Recovery
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Greenville, SC: The pandemic is accelerating growth in midsize cities, positioning them to lead the charge in the nation's economic rebound. Even before Covid-19, these rising stars—such as Greenville, Des Moines, Iowa, and Provo, Utah—had been quietly building out vibrant economies in the shadow of bigger metropolises. During the pandemic, they have drawn workers and businesses with large and affordable homes, ample access to outdoor space and less congestion. They also have a mix of high-tech jobs and old-line industries, including manufacturing and finance, that turned out to be more resistant to the downturn. “They offer a lot of things you can’t really get in the big city,” said Mark Vitner, senior economist with Wells Fargo & Co. “They’re more affordable, and it’s so much easier to live there. The Wall Street Journal
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Camden Police Reform is Model for Other Cities
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Camden, NJ: This city has little in common with Ithaca, New York. Yet that scenic upstate New York college town is the latest community looking to duplicate many of Camden’s police reforms as the framework for overhauling its police department. It intends to dismantle its police force, partner with the county government, and retrain rehired and new officers to better interact with the people who live in the community. Ithaca is not alone. For several years, large and small police departments around the U.S. – like ones in Hamden, Connecticut, and even the New York Police Department – have sought guidance from the Camden County Police Department to improve their performance and reduce crime. Tapinto.net
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Mass. Tax Proposal Would Require Nonprofits to Pay
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Massachusetts: Community advocates, city councilors and state representatives in Massachusetts are joining forces to advocate for a statewide mandate that would enable municipalities to require wealthy nonprofits to participate in PILOT, or payments in lieu of taxes, programs. “Massachusetts is home to amazing institutions, some of the most prestigious nonprofit institutions worldwide,” said Enid Eckstein, a community organizer and leader in the PILOT Action Group, during an April 15 virtual town hall meeting. “While they provide great services and education, they don’t pay property taxes and for many (cities) property tax revenue is an increasingly important part of the city budget." Boston Business Journal
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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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