The Ohio State University
EN-9: Community Partnerships

Ohio State has partnered with its local, regional, and global community in countless and different ways. For instance, Ohio State has been a sponsored of the non-profit Green Columbus’ Earth Day celebration every year. Additionally, Ohio State supports, organizes, or manages community groups and organizations such as the University Area Commission, City of Columbus, and other government agencies. Mutually beneficial partnerships and collaborations are central to both the definition of outreach and engagement and how the Office of Outreach and Engagement does its work. This office exists to work in collaboration with faculty, staff, students, and units to enrich Ohio State’s partnerships with the community and to embed outreach and engagement into colleges and departments.

One example of a collaborative partnership is the university’s Star House; a 24 hour/day drop-in center created to meet the immediate needs of homeless youth within Columbus, Ohio. The center also explores ways to re-establish adult relationships with the youth and to research and test the best ways to implement treatment. For almost a decade, the Star House philosophy provides services to youth with no strings attached – services such as food, showers, new or gently used clothing, washing machines and dryers to clean their clothes, as well as computers and telephones. Community-based services such as therapy, medical care, HIV/AIDS testing and help securing identification and employment are also available to youth. Star House brings in nearly 20 outside community partners to engage youth with needed services. The work at the Star House is making a difference in multiple ways including sustainability by providing opportunities for homeless youth to increase their financial standing as well as their social wellbeing.

The Ohio State University, in cooperation with The City of Columbus, created Campus Partners for community urban redevelopment (http://campuspartners.osu.edu/). The mission of Campus Partners is to revitalize distressed neighborhoods within the University District of Columbus, Ohio and improve the quality of life for students, faculty, staff, residents and business owners throughout the university community and thereby, reinforce the stature of The Ohio State University as one of the world’s great public research and teaching universities. Since 1995, the university has provided staff and monetary support to Campus Partners, subject to agreements between the entities. The hallmark of Campus Partners’ work has been a market-based strategy which relies on community planning, a comprehensive approach to neighborhood renewal, partnerships among the major stakeholders and strategic projects that leverage private investment and change underlying conditions in the neighborhoods. Campus Partners supports a number of community-based activities and organizations throughout the year which are open to all faculty, staff, students, and the general public. To facilitate revitalization of the University District neighborhoods, Campus Partners' relies on Planning, Projects and Partnerships to create positive change in the community. These tools allow Campus Partners to address the wide range of needs in the community and build a strong foundation for a successful, sustainable University District. Currently, there are three main focus areas for Campus Partners' work to-date; the High Street Corridor, the Weinland Park neighborhood and the University District neighborhoods. These three areas reflect the diversity of the University District and each requires a different set of strategies and tools. Efforts in these areas include continued redevelopment and investment of deteriorated locations and properties along High Street; preserve and improve low-income housing, while promoting economic diversity and neighborhood stability in Weinland Park; and improvements in municipal services and public infrastructure in the University District neighborhoods.