Urban Colleges And Universities And Their Communities

URBAN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND THEIR COMMUNITIESAn Exploration of the Interactions between the Two Constituencies

Adam Anderson

Introduction

College is a significant part of life for many young American adults.

Urban Universities play a large role in this education.

The Example of CUNY

Geographic Designation

53%

24%

15%

8%Urban Suburban Town Rural

Introduction

Because of the amount of capital (human or otherwise), Urban Universities impact their cities.

Columbus, Ohio, and the Higher Education Capital

Research Question

The guiding question for the study was: “What happens to the local urban neighborhood when a university is in it?”

The study sought to discover what prevalent themes occur as Urban Universities and their respective neighborhoods interact with each other.

Gannon University was used as a case study.

Limitations To Study/Definitions

Lack of cohesive body of study

Research time frame

Researcher experience

College/University

City

Urbanized Area

Enlightened Self-Interest

Limitations Definitions

Review of Literature

Review of Literature

Universities can choose to influence the built environment: Safety Functionality Aesthetics

Each of these contribute to more and safer students in the University, and contributes to the bottom line.

Review of Literature

Universities may also choose to provide social services for their neighborhoods.

Tangible – Hostos Community College

Intangible – Xavier (New Orleans)

Review of Literature

Students are a critical part of a University’s operation.

Space in Urban Settings

Students will choose to live off campus

“Studentification”

Pros: Discretionary

Buying Power Younger population

and newer culture Higher Property

Rates Cons:

“Student Ghettos” Migration of Older

populations Increased Rates of

petty theft and disrespect

Review of Literature

Universities must be weary of “Ivory Tower Language”

Best practice for Community Partnerships

If a University chooses to act unilaterally, the consequences are not always positive.

The Case of Black Bottom

Located in present day University City.

Home to a largely poor, working class African-American community.

The Case of Black Bottom

1959 – 1970: City of Philadelphia requested monies to help the West Philadelphia Corporation plan “University City”

Razed blighted properties and purchased other via eminent domain.

Estimates state nearly 5,000 individuals were displaced from Black Bottom neighborhood.

Methodology

Gannon Case Study How does Gannon interact with the

downtown Erie area? Interviews

Employees of the city of Erie At-large members of the community Employees of Gannon University Connecting the four attributes found in

Review of Literature

City of Erie Statistics

Population – 103,717

Poverty Rate – 13.8%

Median Income Per Capita - $14,972

43.8% of properties are rentals

20% of people over 25 have no High School Diploma

4 Local colleges

Downtown Erie

Erie downtown is contained 60 square blocks

Major downtown employers: Hamot Medical Center, Erie Insurance, Gannon University

Gannon University

Began by Bishop John Mark Gannon in 1925

1964 – Became Coeducational

1979 – Received University Status

Owns estimated $111 million of property in downtown Erie.

Gannon University

Located from State Street west to Chestnut street, Fourth Street south to Tenth Street

Located in one of the most impoverished areas of the entire city of Erie.

Findings

Gannon has consistently purchased and rehabilitated buildings as they expand.

17 of 36 (48%) of buildings are of this type.

The 100,000 sq ft. former Verizon State office

Findings

Gannon, however, does not pay taxes on any of the property it owns.

Elimination of tax base The Verizon Building: “Someone is

paying taxes” $193,807a year contributed in

taxes from the building

Findings

Gannon Small Business Development Center

Hosted by Gannon for 25 years Serves four county area and helps

small business through free consulting services

Findings

Community Service 30,000 hours of

logged community service

GIVE Day United Way Day of

Caring Greek Week Criminal Justice

degree Upward Bound/ACT

101

Findings

“Who tends to the streets?” Criticism of Gannon’s “insular” nature Mercyhurst Northeast LECOM

Pilot Programs 50% of possible taxable property Hamot Erie Insurance Gannon’s annual budget

Findings

“It takes away real estate” Student housing allows properties to be

filled Most people have no real complaints

with the students in Erie “You know where their money is

going, right?” Perception that most student’s

discretionary money is going towards alcohol

Findings

“Just reciprocal. My saying is ‘fair exchange, no robbery’” Perception of Gannon

as insular County Commissioner,

Mayor, Fred Rush, most of City Council are Gannon graduates

“This is the University’s back yard” Perry Square

Renovations

Conclusions

Gannon has made considerable effort to benefit the Erie downtown.

It is in Gannon’s best interest as both a Catholic University, and as a University in the midst of a strategic plan, to pursue the City of Erie as much as possible

However, its lack of funding into the downtown has caused strife amongst both city government and other schools of higher learning.

Recommendations

Downtown living incentive New townhomes

in south end of downtown Erie to be built within the next five years

10% quota (17 townhomes)

Improvement of tax base

Recommendations

Perry Square Improvements $500,000

improvements to the two block area

The park is the back yard of the University

Would be a major part of Gannon’s Pilot monies.

Recommendations

Public Relations Campaign The “Believe…” campaign Could be restructured to

include effective partnerships the University has had with the city of Erie.

“Believe in teamwork”

Recommendations: Further Research

Literature Review Essay Perceptions of Erie after

Public Relations Campaign Effect of “Graduate Halo” in

Town/Gown Relationships

Thank you for your time.

Questions?