Sunnyvale University
Town-Gown Relations:
Where University meets Community
Studentaffairs.com Virtual Case Study Competition
Robyn Jones, Reggie Strouble and Amy Vance (Team Leader)
of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Project Team
Objective
Aloysius Vance
Dean of Students
To create a plan that benefits both
Sunnyvale University and the town of
Sunnyvale. This plan will strengthen the
relationship between the student
population and the year-round community.
Robyn Jones
Deputy Mayor
Reggie Strouble
Director of Residence Life
and Student Activities
After several collaborative meetings, our
committee has created a well-orchestrated
plan that we will implement in three
phases. We will launch our plan Fall 2013
and conclude Spring 2016.
Sunnyvale University
Town-Gown Relations:
Where University meets Community
Good morning Mr. Rector, members of the Board, President Bill,
distinguished guests and town representatives
Presentation Agenda
Benefits for both university and community
Projects to be included in our plan
Town-Gown Plan
Measurable outcomes
Assessment Plan
Questions
Sunnyvale University
Town-Gown Relations:
Where University meets Community
Benefits to Community
•Enhance resources for social
service programs
•Improve neighborhood security
•Increase quality of life
•Increase property Values
Benefits to the University
•Enhance learning experience of
students
•Improve campus security
•Strengthen university mission
•Increase accountability towards the
community
•Develop academic and volunteer
activities for students, faculty, and staff
•Attract future students
Sunnyvale University
Town-Gown Relations:
Where University meets Community
Our three year plan includes initiating the following projects:
• Establish Town-Gown Committee
• Publish “Survival” guide for students
• Integrate service learning projects into curriculum
• Launch annual “Sunny-day” on campus
• Institute monthly speaker series featuring faculty members
Sunnyvale University
Town-Gown Relations:
Where University meets Community
Town-Gown Committee
• Includes student, staff , faculty and community member representatives
• Oversees all aspects of Town Gown Plan
• Researchers external grant opportunities to help with funding
• Creates measurable outcomes to assess results of plan
• Meets on a bi-weekly basis to identify problems and challenges
Sunnyvale University
Town-Gown Relations:
Where University meets Community
“Survival” Guide for students
• Instructs students on their responsibilities as community members
• Addresses appropriate student behavior both on and off campus
• Lists community resources such as businesses, churches, hospitals, law
enforcements agencies, and non-profit organizations
• Explains town codes that are applicable to students
• Educates students on Sunnyvale history
Sunnyvale University
Town-Gown Relations:
Where University meets Community
Service Learning Project Initiative
• Involves university initiatives designed to engage students in
community learning and service activities as part of their regular
coursework
• Rewards students with grades
• Provides faculty with opportunities to incorporate community outreach
into their research
• Gives community project approval rights
Sunnyvale University
Town-Gown Relations:
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Where University meets Community
“Sunny-Day Challenge”
• Focuses on community service
• Identifies community members cleanup needs
• Utilizes fraternities, sororities, and other student organizations
• Provides the university community to interact with their neighbors in a
positive way.
• Celebrates with community when cleanup is complete
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Where University meets Community
Monthly Speaker Series Featuring Faculty Members
• Encourages presentations inspired by the local community
• Brings community members onto campus
• Engages students, faculty, staff, and community members with
discussions
• Preserves Speaker Series by recording and allowing community
viewing at university and public libraries
Sunnyvale University
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Where University meets Community
Phase I (Fall 2013 to Spring 2014)
• Town Gown Climate Assessment to students, faculty, staff and community
members
• Fall 2013 - administer survey
• Spring 2014 - analyze data
• Establish a Sunnyvale Town Gown Relations Committee
• Fall 2013 - secure committee member volunteers
• Fall 2013 - hold first committee meeting
• “Survival” guide
• Fall 2013 - gather information for guide
• Spring 2014 - create website to serve as portal for online version of guide
• Launch marketing campaign including a presence via social media
• Fall 2013 create a logo and tagline for campaign
• Fall 2013 create posters/banners to display both on campus and within
community
• Fall 2013 create Facebook page, blog, Twitter and Foursquare accounts
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Where University meets Community
Phase II (Fall 2014 to Spring 2016)
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Speaker Series
Fall 2014 – secure faculty participants
Fall 2014 – launch lecture series
Service Learning Project
Fall 2014 – meet w/faculty members to discuss their needs
Fall 2014 – meet w/appropriate administrators to discuss necessary changes
Spring 2015 – meet with community members to discuss potential projects
“Survival” Guide
Fall 2014 – unveil community portal
Fall 2014 -- start to use guide in all first year and transfer orientations
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Where University meets Community
Phase II (Continued)
• Marketing Campaign
• Fall 2014 – market Speaker Series
• Spring 2015 – upload series of videos to
Youtube that highlight Sunnyvale history,
appropriate student behavior on and off
campus, services, being a tenant/landlord
• “Sunny-Day Challenge”
• Fall 2015 – secure volunteers
• Fall 2015 – coordinate logistics of
“Sunny-Day”
• Spring 2016 – first annual “Sunny-Day”
takes place
• Marketing Campaign
• Fall 2015 – market “Sunny-Day
Challenge” both on and off campus
• Fall 2015 & Spring 2016 – continue to
market speaker series
Sunnyvale University
Town-Gown Relations:
Where University meets Community
Phase III (Fall 2015 to Spring 2016)
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•
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•
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“Survival” Guide
Fall 2015 – update guide
Speaker Series
Fall 2015 & Spring 2016 – continue with series
Service Learning Project
Fall 2015 -- incorporate service learning into curriculum
“Sunny-Day” Event
Fall 2015 – secure volunteers
Fall 2015 – coordinate logistics of “Sunny-Day”
Spring 2016 – first annual “Sunny-Day” takes place
Marketing Campaign
Fall 2015 – market “Sunny-Day” both on and off campus
Fall 2015 & Spring 2016 – continue to market speaker series
Spring 2016 – upload videos to YouTube that celebrate our success
Assessment
Conduct focus groups that will include students, faculty, staff, and
community members
• Survey Town Gown Committee
Sunnyvale University
Town-Gown Relations:
Where University meets Community
“Sunny-Day”
Post-Event
Survey
An example of an
assessment tool that will
be used to garner both
quantitative and
qualitative data.
Sunnyvale University
Town-Gown Relations:
Where University meets Community
Measurable Outcomes
1. Students, faculty, and staff members should be able to:
Articulate a greater understanding of service
Describe various community service opportunities
Discuss experiences working with the community
2. Community members should be able to:
Articulate positive aspects of the university
Describe various university-community events
Discuss experiences working with university members
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Where University meets Community
Closing the LOOP
• At the conclusion of the three years, the town-gown committee will
present an official report to the town representatives, university
stakeholders, Board of Trustees, and President.
• Report will also be a published document made available on the
university website and other social media outlets. A physical copy
will be available in the university and public libraries.
• In order to close the loop additional recommendations for the
improvement of town gown relations will be established based on
town gown climate assessment results. These results will be used to
create a strategic plan for the next three years.
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Where University meets Community
We conclude this presentation by asking for your assistance in
strengthening the relationship between Sunnyvale University and the
Sunnyvale community.
Together we can change the culture of the institution so that it encompasses
service and collaboration.
But this cultural change can not be mandated.
It must be inspired!
At this time, we would like to answer any questions.
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Where University meets Community
“Our challenge within academia is to shift toward actively working
with community leaders for our mutual benefit. The challenge for
local communities and civic officials is to move toward seeing such
institutions as critical engines of regional development. What is
clear, of course, is that these twin paradigm shifts are a mirror
image of each other. One can’t happen without the other.”
– Former Northeastern University President Richard Freeland
Sunnyvale University
Town-Gown Relations:
Where University meets Community
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