“If We only Told our Story Better...” Re-envisioning State-University Relations Through the Lens of Public Engagement

Publication Date: April 2011

Publisher: Wisconsin Center for the Advancement of Postsecondary Education (WISCAPE), University of Wisconsin-Madison

Author(s):

Research Area: Education

Keywords: Accountability, Autonomy, and Politics ; University Relations ; Institutional Advancement ; Outreach, Engagement, and the Public Good

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

A prevailing notion among higher education leaders is that public relations and marketing efforts must be intensified to boost legislative support for colleges and universities. However, this view fails to consider whether the academy might increase its standing among legislators and the general public by becoming more productively engaged in state problems. By embracing the principles of public engagement, universities could position themselves as solutions to problems and leverage public and private support for research, teaching, and service in relation to public interests.