Mission & Goals

Mission

The mission of the Stevenson Center  is to help fulfill the University's obligation to engage in public service and community and economic development activities which complement the university's teaching and research functions.

Goals

The Stevenson Center for Community and Economic Development  will:

• inform communities and agencies about services available at the University, including applied research, consulting services, and graduate internships
• identify areas and populations which are underserved, both rural and urban
• cooperate with other Illinois State University programs to provide community and economic development services to communities
• collaborate with non-profits, businesses, associations, educational institutions, and local, state and federal government agencies in these efforts
• assist University Departments with the recruitment, training and support of graduate and undergraduate students in this area of study, and assist with the location of appropriate internship opportunities for these students
• facilitate and conduct applied research, drawing on the special skills and expertise of faculty and graduate students
• draw on applied research efforts to create a body of instructional materials for use throughout the university
• coordinate and manage government and private fundraising to help serve the Unit’s service, teaching and research objectives
• develop new programs and collaborative arrangements which help fulfill the Center’s mission