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| What
is the UAEDI's (University of Arkansas Economic Development Institute)
mission? WHAT IS THE UAEDI’S (UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE) MISSION? UAEDI’s mission is to enhance the economic and social well-being of the people of Arkansas by extending University of Arkansas programs, as appropriate, in partnership with others having similar interests. UAEDI is a voluntary collection of (1) University of Arkansas faculty, staff, students and administrators and (2) external partners, all who have a personal and/or professional interest in helping promote UAEDI’s mission. HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS ARE PART OF UAEDI? On July 1, 2004, there were approximately 600 individuals on the UAEDI electronic mailing list. Of these, 250 are faculty throughout the University of Arkansas System, almost all of whom who have participated in some way with UAEDI. Another 350 are UAEDI partners with more than half having participated actively in one or more UAEDI related activities. HOW DOES ONE GET ON THE UAEDI ELECRONIC MAILING LIST? Simply contact the UAEDI Director (OJL@uark.edu) and ask to be added. An email address is necessary and other contact information is appreciated. WHO PROVIDES THE STAFF SUPPORT FOR UAEDI? UAEDI staff consists of a full-time Director and Assistant Director with part-time assistance from a GIS specialist, marketing director and administrative support provider. WHY WOULD SOMEONE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS WANT TO BE AFFILIATED WITH UAEDI? Personal and profession reasons and benefits from being involved in
UAEDI include: o Having a strong interest in helping promote the economic and social well-being and prosperity of the people of Arkansas. o Needing more professional contacts, both in and outside of the University of Arkansas, for involvement in teaching, research, and/or service programs. o Seeking greater opportunities to submit stronger proposals that lead to more or better funded projects. o Desiring greater programmatic visibility and awareness. o Enjoying interdisciplinary efforts that require creativity and offer intellectual stimulation and challenges. o Would like to develop and promote class projects for students that are based on the “real world” needs of Arkansans and their communities and businesses. o Wanting to see one’s research utilized directly by people that are known by the researcher. o Wishing to transfer one’s knowledge to people who can use this expertise immediately. o Desiring to make a difference in the lives of the people of Arkansas by helping them in the development of leadership, education, communities, business and industry. o Preferring what one does to be clearly relevant to the people in this state.o Offering expertise, information, or other services that help people address issues related to their quality of life and economic competitiveness. o Seeking the satisfaction associated with helping people help themselves. WHY WOULD SOMEONE OUTSIDE THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS WANT TO BE AFFILIATED
WITH UAEDI? o UAEDI offers potential partners a means for accessing the various programs of the faculty, staff, students and administrators of the University of Arkansas. o UAEDI helps partners to determine how best to work with and within the University of Arkansas and to align their expectations accordingly. o UAEDI helps promote two-way communication by:
o UAEDI seeks to facilitate partnerships by working with potential partners to identify and pursue goals in which there is a shared interest, often through preparation and implementation of joint proposals involving the University of Arkansas. o UAEDI offers a willingness to work directly with potential partners to discuss their needs and concerns and to explore possibilities and ideas. HOW DO UA FACULTY, STAFF, STUDENTS AND ADMINISTRATORS AND THEIR VARIOUS PROGRAMS BECOME “OFFICIALLY” AFFILIATED WITH UAEDI? There are several ways that include: For details see “How to become involved” or
contact the UAEDI Director.
ARE
THESE “OUTSIDE” ORGANIZATIONS CONSIDERED “OFFICIALLY” PART
OF UAEDI? WHEN DID UAEDI COME INTO BEING? Chancellor John A. White created UAEDI after conversations with then Dean of Engineering Otto J. Loewer regarding the land-grant role of the University of Arkansas in promoting the social and economic well-being of the people of Arkansas, regardless of where they live. WHY DID THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS CREATE UAEDI? TO WHOM DOES THE DIRECTOR OF UAEDI REPORT? WHAT
ARE THE “CATCH PHASES” THAT
BEST DESCRIBE WHAT UAEDI IS TRYING TO DO
IN TERMS OF ITS GOAL AND STRATEGY? WHAT IS BROAD-BASED DEVELOPMENT? WHAT ARE BREAKTHROUGH SOLUTIONS? UAEDI believes that the key to Arkansas making progress relative to other states is through broad-based development and breakthrough solutions, usually involving combinations of partnerships with key linkages to communities that are actively seeking and financially supporting greater economic and social well-being and prosperity. These communities will then serve as models to others in Arkansas to be expanded, extended and replicated as appropriate. HOW ARE THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FACULTY, STAFF, STUDENTS AND ADMINISTRATION UNIQUELY SITUATED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN ARKANSAS THROUGH UAEDI? There are three reasons why the University of Arkansas, through its faculty, staff, students and administrators, are uniquely positioned to make a huge positive difference in this state:
HOW WILL UAEDI MEASURE ITS SUCCESS? o Direct short-term impacts are the products of programmatic activity by University of Arkansas faculty, staff, student, and administrators that are related to UAEDI’s mission and influenced UAEDI involvement. Examples include the products of • Discussion Groups and Special Initiatives;
o Indirect long-term impact involves: Community short-term trends include factors related to income, education, poverty and population. State long-term trends track key indicators noted in reports from such organizations as the Milken Institute which ranks Arkansas as the least prepared of all states, including the District of Columbia, to thrive in a technology-based economy. HOW DOES UAEDI RELATE TO THE GOALS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS? UAEDI’s mission is fundamental to the outreach focus of the land-grant mission of the University of Arkansas. Thus, UAEDI is well positioned to contribute directly to meeting established UA goals related to student enrollment and retention, diversity, public support, private support, and reputation and quality of teaching, research and outreach. WHAT IS UAEDI’S ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND HOW DOES IT RELATE TO THE REST OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS? UAEDI is led by
a Director who reports directly to the Chancellor of the
University of Arkansas. UAEDI is intended to be a
streamlined, administratively “flat” and facilitating organization
that
builds strong relationships designed to easily bridge across UA’s DEFINE “VOLUNTARY” PARTNERSHIPS
AND GIVE EXAMPLES. WHAT ROLE DOES THE WORLD WIDE WEB PLAY IN UAEDI? The World Wide Web (http://uaedi.cast.uark.edu)
is the primary means by
which UAEDI communicates. Communication includes: announcements; links
to
data and information about funding sources; descriptions of UAEDI
programs, activities and operating philosophy; and UAEDI sponsored
databases. As evidence of the web site’s success since it became WHAT ARE THE SHORT- AND LONG-TERM GROWTH PLANS FOR UAEDI? First, UAEDI will continue to promote and facilitate partnerships between higher education and the people of Arkansas. While these partnerships will take many forms, connecting to multi-county regional economic development groups is a high priority. At the top of this list is the creation of the Crossroads Coalition in eastern Arkansas from the newly formed Technology Center for the Delta in Cross County, and developing a strong partnership with the newly formed Cornerstone Coalition in southeast Arkansas. These two efforts are intended to serve as models to be extended, expanded and replicated throughout the rest of Arkansas. Second, UAEDI will greatly promote its Students Engaged in Economic Development (SEED) program throughout Arkansas, building upon the success that SEED has had during its first two years of existence. Third, UAEDI will continue to build its Discussion Groups and Special Initiatives, Information Resources, and Referrals and Connections. CAN UAEDI REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN ARKANSAS? The answer is an emphatic “yes!” The reasons include: • UAEDI’s mission is aligned with that of the land-grant University of Arkansas mission and is consistent with the personal and professional goals of UA faculty, staff and administrators; • The strength of UAEDI is through the University of Arkansas which arguably has Arkansas’ greatest single public collection of physical and intellectual resources that are required for broad-based development in Arkansas; • Within the first two years of UAEDI, approximately fifteen percent of UA Fayetteville faculty, staff and administrators have become involved in some aspect of UAEDI and its mission. Clearly, there are many at the University of Arkansas and elsewhere who are actively seeking a personal and professional outlet for their programmatic expertise that makes a difference in the lives of the people of Arkansas, and UAEDI offers such an outlet. The key to UAEDI’s impact will depend on its ability to be a uniting force in Arkansas by proactively serving as an inclusive organization that creates a shared vision, generates new ideas, and fosters mutually beneficial partnerships through which activities occur that lead to personal and community prosperity and well-being. WHERE IS UAEDI LOCATED, AND WHO SHOULD BE CONTACTED FOR MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT UAEDI? Otto J. Loewer, Ph.D.,
P. E. |
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