From the Vice President
Outreach and engagement is central to the mission of The Ohio State University. As a land-grant university, we are committed to improving the world by leveraging the resources and knowledge of the university through partnerships with the communities we serve. We have a long history of such partnerships, including collaborations through OSU Extension, university-industry partnerships through engineering, continuing and professional education, public broadcasting, and health care and school-related partnerships. In the mid-20th century, partnerships continued to grow through the work of regional campuses. Today, faculty, staff, and students across the University are collaborating with communities and organizations throughout Ohio, the United States and the world to bring knowledge to life as we collaborate on pressing societal issues.
Throughout our history, outreach and engagement has taken many different forms and approaches. There is not one form or process by which the university and community partner. What engagement looks like in every college/community partnership will change depending upon the issue being addressed or the need of the partners. However, there are two principles that are key to every outreach and engagement initiative that involves Ohio State. This work is rooted in—
- A meaningful and mutually beneficial collaboration with partners outside the academic community. This may include partners such as those in education, business, and public and social service.
- Teaching, research, and service. Outreach and engagement is the application of these core functions of the university outside the campus walls.
We have exciting examples of the diversity of engagement involving this University. Annually the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC) and the Outreach Scholarship Partnership recognize outstanding outreach and engagement work through the C. Peter Magrath University Community Engagement Award. In 2007, 15 outstanding outreach and engagement partnerships were nominated for this award at Ohio State, and two were selected as Ohio State’s nominees for this national award—The Sugar Creek Project and Engaged Partners—Improving the Lives of Children and Youth. Engaged Partners became the 2007 North Central United States regional winner. In 2008, 34 partnerships were put forth, with two selected as Ohio State’s finalists, Ohio State’s Comprehensive Approach to Urban Revitalization and The Ohio State University and Honda: Expanding, Excelling, and Enriching the Partnership. Again this year, one of our nominees was the North Central regional winner and will be competing against four other university-community partnerships for the national award to be announced in November.
As a 21st century land-grant university, Ohio State is committed to expanding and enhancing its many partnerships across Ohio and the world. Through university-community partnerships, together we can build Ohio’s future.
Bob Moser
Vice President, University Outreach
