Public Engagement

Last night Minnesota Campus Compact hosted the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Partnership Award for Campus-Community Collaboration dinner. Former astronaut and Senator John Glenn was the keynote speaker. The event is described on the MCC web site.

The Carter Partnership Award tries to recognize "the best academic service work of students, faculty and staff at universities and colleges as they partner with community groups and community agencies." We were treated to an inspiring video of the five finalists, and those of us from the University of Minnesota were delighted that the winner was declared to be the University of Minnesota Morris and the City of Morris for The Center for Small Towns. As described on the web site,

The Center for Small Towns is a community outreach program housed at the University of Minnesota, Morris (UMM) and serves as a point-of-entry to the resources of the University of Minnesota. Small towns, local units of government, K-12 schools, non-profit organizations, and other University units are able to utilize the Center's resources as they work on rural issues or make contributions to rural society.

Vision
The 21st century will bring enormous challenges and opportunities to rural Minnesota and its many small communities. By working cooperatively, the University of Minnesota and small towns in the region can find new ways to successfully transition through this period of rapid change.

Mission
To focus the University's attention and marshal its resources toward assisting Minnesota's small towns with locally identified issues by creating applied learning opportunities for faculty and students.

This is public engagement at its finest.