In the last quarter of the twentieth century; urban colleges and universities found themselves enveloped by the poverty; crime; and physical decline that afflicted American cities. Some institutions turned inward; trying to insulate themselves rather than address the problems in their own backyards. Others attempted to develop better community relations; though changes were hard to sustain.Spurred by an unprecedented crime wave in 1996; University of Pennsylvania President Judith Rodin knew that the time for urgent action had arrived; and she set a new course of proactive community engagement for her university. Her dedication to the revitalization of West Philadelphia was guided by her role not only as president but also as a woman and a mother with a deep affection for her hometown.The goal was to build capacity back into a severely distressed inner-city neighborhoodmdash;educational capacity; retail capacity; quality-of-life capacity; and especially economic capacitymdash;guided by the belief that "town and gown" could unite as one richly diverse community.Cities rely on their academic institutions as stable places of employment; cultural centers; civic partners; and concentrated populations of consumers for local business and services. And a competitive university demands a vibrant neighborhood to meet the needs of its faculty; staff; and students. In keeping with their mission; urban universities are uniquely positioned to lead their communities in revitalization efforts; yet this effort requires resolute persistence.During Rodins administration (1994-2004); the Chronicle of Higher Education referred to Penns progress as a "national model of constructive town-gown interaction and partnership." This book narrates the challenges; frustrations; and successes of Penns campaign; and its prospects for long-term change.
#3731595 in eBooks 2015-11-26 2015-11-26File Name: B018USMF6K
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