Engagement and State Politics: Building Political Support for the Engaged Institution David J. Weerts Associate Professor & Faculty Director Jandris Center for Innovative Higher Education (jCENTER) University of Minnesota- twin Cities

Topics for this Session Understanding engagement and statewide political systems: lessons from a longitudinal study Assessing the potential for securing political/financial support for the engaged institution (handout and team discussion) Can engagement bolster political/financial support for higher education in your state?

“Public [financial] support is more easily attained and sustained if the general citizenry, especially those in public policy positions, such as governors and legislators, believe the university in question makes substantial societal contributions.” Dr. Nancy Zimpher Chancellor, State University System of New York (SUNY) Do you believe this statement to be true?

Weerts, D. J., (2015). The public-good variable: Can public engagement boost state support for higher education? Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning. 47(3), Weerts, D. J., (2014). State funding and the engaged university: Understanding community engagement and state appropriations for higher education. Review of Higher Education, 38(1), Can Robust Community Engagement Bolster State Support for Higher Education? Lessons from a Longitudinal Study

Engagement as a Competitive Strategy

Capitalizing on Place and Local Power The Urban Advantage

System Governance: Friend or Foe?

Knowing thy mission, history, and campus culture Is engagement a viable strategy?

“Don’t outrun your punt coverage.”

Campus Identity Image, resource dependence, and an institution’s “Public Good Narrative” Higher than expected support: “Reciprocity, mutual benefit” (place-bound: regional orientation) Lower than expected support: “Serving humanity” (private college orientation) “Tech transfer, outreach, extension” (Land-grant/flagship orientation)

Civic learning Community revitalization Engaged scholarship, public impact Leveraging your institution's most salient civic identity Weerts, D., J., & Freed, G. F, (forthcoming). Public engagement and organizational identity in U.S. higher education. Recherches Sociologiques et Anthropologiques, 2016 /1

What does this mean for your institution? Regionally-focused institutions in a better position to leverage engagement/bolster state support as compared to public flagships. Some governance systems foster competition which may advantage some institutions over others (structures/performance policies). Advantages may accrue to institutions with… –Savvy leaders who can leverage favorable place, history, culture and mission to secure an engagement niche/image/identity. –Engagement niche that addresses state performance goals for higher education.

Assessing and Building Political Support for the Engaged Campus (handout) Leveraging place Leveraging mission, history, campus culture Leveraging campus leadership Leveraging political structures/climate Leveraging story/image