UAlbany Intensifies Focus on Partnerships and Community Engagement

The UAlbany-Community Connections Web site makes it easy to find information about hundreds of community partnerships and outreach activities. (Photo Mark Schmidt)

ALBANY, N.Y. (February 18, 2010) -- The University at Albany is expanding ways for New Yorkers and others to connect to its extensive network of research, expertise, and other resources, and to advance partnerships that benefit diverse communities. 

The University unveiled today a new Web gateway at www.albany.edu/outreach, designed to connect people in business, government, schools, non-profits and neighborhoods with information about hundreds of programs and activities to further their interests and growth.

UAlbany President George Philip also announced that he will host the first President�s Capital Community Conversation on April 23 from 8:30-10 a.m. (Location to be announced.) The planned annual event is open to the public. �We want to talk with our diverse stakeholders about the many ways we partner to improve lives and communities as well as hear their ideas and perspectives,� said Philip.

�Since UAlbany began as a state normal school in 1844," Philip continued, �it has diversified into fields ranging from business and public policy to nanotechnology and cancer research. Our role as a public university and our strategic location in New York�s capital city creates fertile fields for partnerships. These grow our capacity as an institution and in turn our ability to benefit people in the region, state and world."

The UAlbany-Community Connections Web site makes it easy for people to find useful information about hundreds of partnerships and outreach activities. Teachers can view nearly 40 K-12 programs and activities ranging from efforts focused on math and the sciences to at-risk youth initiatives, such as an early college access program for high school students.

Similarly, business owners can easily find services to improve performance and locate talented interns in marketing, information technology and many other areas. Policymakers and practitioners working on social and health issues from aging to autism to minority health can find a host of research projects and contacts. Regional residents can tap into exciting sports events and arts and cultural activities. These are just some examples of the many resources available through the site.

The University has also established a new Campus Committee on University-Community Engagement to further advance UAlbany�s strengths in community-engaged research, teaching and service. This 34-member group is chaired by Robert Bangert-Drowns, dean of the School of Education, and Miriam Trementozzi, associate vice president for community engagement, President�s Office.

"Whether we are working to foster public health locally or globally or to develop an innovation economy for New York State, community-engaged work is part of our institutional identity,� said Provost Susan Phillips. �The Committee will help us leverage efforts for greater impact."

For more information on community engagement at UAlbany visit: www.albany.edu/outreach.

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Educationally and culturally, the University at Albany-SUNY puts "The World Within Reach" for its 18,000 students. An internationally recognized research university with 58 undergraduate majors and 128 graduate degree programs, UAlbany is a leader among all New York State colleges and universities in such diverse fields as public policy, nanotechnology and criminal justice. With a curriculum enhanced by 300 study-abroad opportunities, UAlbany launches great careers. For more information about this globally ranked University, visit www.albany.edu. For UAlbany's extensive roster of faculty experts, visit www.albany.edu/news/experts.shtml.