| BG teamwork touted |
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| Written by HAROLD BROWN Sentinel City Editor | ||
| Friday, 14 September 2012 10:19 | ||
Mayor Richard Edwards and BGSU President Mary Ellen Mazey used the meeting to outline the Joint Visioning Task Force Report that nearly four dozen people have developed since the spring. "We're seeing some progress already. We are thinking about different ways to work together," Edwards said. He mentioned that the BGSU Visitor's Center on Alumni Drive is now providing community information along with university information, a service that had not been allowed in the past. "Daily the university and city work very, very well together," Mazey said. "We've looked at our strengths, the things we can build on as we look to the future. We've looked at our weaknesses, the things we are not doing well and how we can overcome those problems. We need to seize the opportunities," she said. Mazey pointed to the collaboration between the university and Wood County Hospital to build a new student health center. "The fact that Wood County Hospital will build that center will save the student fee budget $1.6 million a year that can be directed to other needs." One of the first projects to benefit will be a refurbishment of the Student Recreation Center, which Mazey said will help student recruiting. "We hope to have other college communities coming to Bowling Green to see the partnerships and learn how collaborative efforts work," she said. The report includes a dozen short-term priorities and actions and a list of five long-term goals and priorities. Edwards said the order does not indicate a ranking. • Increase ease and opportunities to share information. Among the suggested actions are finding a way to house the BG Chamber of Commerce, Downtown BG, and the Community Development Foundation at the same location and include a BGSU presence; creation of a "buy local" culture on campus; providing relocation packets to BGSU academic and administrative offices and a "common read" to provide a common education mission. • Promote and support the Leadership BG program to include more university participants. • Enhance and promote existing educational partnerships as a means to create new opportunities. Among suggested actions are development of more internships, co-ops and service learning opportunities for students and a clearinghouse to promote common interests. • Consider establishing a joint purchasing agreement between the university, city, and schools in order to leverage buying opportunities. • Create a tax increment financing district to improve the streetscape and design of East Wooster Street. Mazey is especially concerned how prospective students and parents view the community as they enter from Interstate 75. • Promote a campaign to educate students on being good neighbors and create a collaborative listing of approved off-campus student housing. • Develop a Community Development Corporation to maintain and improve the housing in BG. • Improve BGSU's relationships with surrounding municipalities and other institutions to become a more fully integrated regional leader. Mazey said the university is already revising some of it advisory boards and is looking at ways to collaborate with the University of Findlay and Ohio Northern University, along with a plan to see that half of the seats for home football games are filled with alumni. • Continue to be an active participant in the Toledo Branding Initiative and provide current and upcoming news and university programs into their website. • Create a "bring a friend" program to get new people involved in athletic events, theater performances, the arts, and community events. "We need greater community support," Mazey said. • Align the university and Bowling Green public school calendars to strengthen a sense of community and encourage higher city residency rates for BGSU faculty and staff. "Provost Rodney Rogers and Superintendent Ann McVey are discussing this but I am not going to make any promises," Mazey said. • Develop a mechanism for people of all ages to get involved in the university-community partnerships. Long-Term Goals: • Develop a bikeway that connects the university with the community. Mazey said fans who traveled to the BGSU-Florida football game noticed such a path in Gainesville. She said funding is available for a feasibility study. • Assess the potential to establish incubators for business, technology, and the arts. • Explore ideas to create an "arts" community and tie this to economic development. "We have three outstanding arts programs at BGSU, most schools have only one. We need to promote this," Mazey said. • Work to reduce energy consumption. • Create ordinances to ensure housing quality and maintenance are enhanced. "This would serve our community well and serve our students well," Mazey said. Comments or suggestions can be directed to Edwards at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The complete report can be viewed at: http://www.bgohio.org/news/city-university-joint-visioning-task-force-report. |
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| Last Updated on Friday, 14 September 2012 10:33 |
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