Rooted in the business community, the Boise Future Foundation evolved into a trisector initiative: public, private, and volunteer entity. Housed at urban Boise State University (Idaho), the foundation examines critical community issues and informs public policy, debate, and action. The foundation's evolution, highlights, critical accomplishments,…

Strategies for building the connection between an urban university and the surrounding community through a service learning program are discussed, drawing on the experience of the Shriver Center at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County campus. Issues addressed include consideration of program form and function, faculty involvement, and…

Virginia Commonwealth University confronted shrinking resources for its urban mission by creating a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) degree program. The program addressed a number of challenges and was built using existing resources in the university and professional communities. Despite early financial concerns, the program now combines needed…

Examines how this university extension project for urban studies and design assists small and large towns in Arkansas to cope with development problems. The project uses faculty, professionals, and student interns to assess situations and provides professional consulting and referral services and public informational programs. (JB)

University collaboration with local public school systems in Birmingham (Alabama), El Paso (Texas), Hartford (Connecticut), Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), Providence (Rhode Island), and Pueblo (Colorado) have brought together a broad spectrum of stakeholders to work on systemic K-16 education reform with a focus on poor and minority children. (JB)

Local educational reform efforts involving school systems, higher education, and the community must address educational pipelines through college and systemic deterrents like health, stress, and violence. A sense of moral imperative will bind collaborators in a new spirit of cohesiveness and community. Educational reform efforts in Birmingham…

George Mason University's (GMU) (Virginia) successful Early Identification Program includes alliances with three public school districts to foster early, consistent intervention, and to encourage and motivate at-risk minority students to complete a college preparatory curriculum and enroll in colleges. GMU guarantees admission to participants who…