The Upstate Institute provides connections
between Colgate University and the surrounding
communities through the research conducted by
our students, staff and faculty, through five
core activities:
Research on the
Upstate New York Region
The Upstate
Institute supports faculty and student
research in various ways in the community.
We seek to encourage
faculty research
on, or directly pertaining
to, the upstate region of New York by
providing support for both the costs of
research as well as a stipend award for the
Colgate faculty investigator.
Students
doing honors level senior research can be supported by being
named an Upstate Research Fellow. In
addition, the Upstate Institute has funded
several research projects
in past years
that benefit the region. More information
about these programs can be found on our
Research Projects
page.
Community Based
Research
The Upstate
Institute Field School
matches students with regional
community, government or non-profit
organizations to develop and implement projects
that bolster organizational capacity. Field
School fellows work with a community partner to
create and complete projects that will have a
positive social, economic, cultural or
environmental impact on the Upstate region. The
Upstate Institute also supports
engagement in the community within the
framework of an academic course in a variety of
ways. This engagement, often referred to as
service learning,
gives Colgate faculty and students a new
strategy for teaching and learning.
Skill Development
The Upstate Institute provides
several opportunities for students to develop
community-building skills in co-curricular
courses. The
Student Philanthropy Council gives Colgate
sophomores and juniors invaluable knowledge and
hands-on experience in philanthropy and the
non-profit sector. The new
Youth Philanthropy
Council provides the same opportunity to
high school students in Chenango County.
The Consumer
Bankruptcy Law Project, initiated by Susan Conn, '79, gives several
students the chance to work with the Legal Aid
Society of Mid New York (LASMNY) to study
consumer bankruptcy cases and prepare
documentation for several bankruptcy cases in
Upstate New York. The
Upstate Institute is currently partnering with Colgate's
COVE, Writing Center, and Center for Career
Services to provide a course in grantswriting
for students and not-for-profit organizations in
the community.
Dialogue on the Upstate
Region
The
Upstate Institute promotes the discussion of
issues affecting the Upstate region through
sponsorship of several recent events, including
the
National Abolition Hall of Fame
Induction Ceremony, the New York State
Public Service Commission hearing on the
$2.1 billion power line proposed by New York
Regional Interconnect, the
Feminist
Rhetorics for Social Justice symposium, and
the Native American Arts & Culture Festival held
at Colgate. The Upstate Institute is currently
participating in the
MAPP project
for Madison County, and supporting regional
dialogue on philanthropy in Madison and Chenango
counties.
Capacity Building
The Upstate Institute seeks to
encourage capacity building and growth among
partnerships and not-for-profit organizations
through a number of programs. The
Lifelong Learning Program
supports continued education for the enrichment
of adult lives in a variety of fields. Through a
grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute,
Colgate provides workshops for local teachers
through the
Science Affiliates
program. A recent
Strategic
Planning course for both students and
community partners encouraged development in
the region.
Mission and
Vision of the Upstate Institute
The mission of the Institute is to create
linkages between Colgate University and the
regional community to engage students,
faculty, staff and residents in research and
a reciprocal transfer of knowledge that will
enhance the economic, social and cultural
capacity of the area and sustain the
environment. These projects provide a model
of community collaboration and civic
engagement for our students and within
higher education. The Institute values
scholarly collaboration as a way to support
the region.
The Institute
recognizes the broad Upstate region that
stretches north and west of the Hudson River
Valley. Priority for partnerships with
non-profit organizations will be in Madison,
Chenango and Oneida counties.
Given its
broad reach, the Upstate Institute’s vision is
as follows:
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The
Upstate Institute supports a community of
scholars through conferences, publications and
grant writing assistance.
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Colgate
University students have an opportunity to
test their knowledge in real world settings,
become engaged in the community and develop an
awareness and appreciation for something
larger than themselves.
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Colgate
University faculty have the means and support
to integrate community based research into the
classroom.
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The
Upstate Institute is a model of community
collaboration and civic engagement within
higher education and to governments at all
levels.
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Regional
residents feel at home on Colgate’s campus and
make use of the many facilities and programs
offered by the University.
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With the
support of the Upstate Institute, economic
development organizations in the region work
on collaborative projects and share best
practices in their field.
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School
districts have an abundance of well qualified,
well educated teachers. Plentiful enrichment
programs are offered through local school
districts in conjunction with the resources of
the Upstate Institute.
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Arts
events in the Upstate Region reflect our local
heritage, culture and skills.
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Local
libraries are hubs of community activity with
a well educated staff and volunteers.
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The
Upstate Institute provides opportunities for
collaboration and group facilitation among
grassroots groups, non-profit organizations,
citizens and governments. The Institute helps
these groups make connections for shared
knowledge and joint projects.
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Non-profit organizations are more
self-sufficient and successful due to training
and support from the Institute.
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Faculty
from other colleges and universities recognize
the Upstate Institute as a place for resources
on regional issues, as well as a successful
model that combines service learning and
classroom pedagogy.
