SIUE Institute for Urban Research
Strategic Plan, FY10
The IUR maintains two different agendas that serve as the center’s strategic plan: a research agenda that prioritizes the research projects of the IUR, and an operational agenda that guides the research and organizational goals and compliance.
A. Alignment with the University Strategic Plan
SIUE’s strategic plan has seven long-term goals that are supported by multiple short-term goals. Many of these are tied to the teaching and service functions of the University and, therefore, are only tangentially associated with the IUR’s work.
B. IUR Goals and Achievement Measures for FY10
1. Research Goals and Actions
a. Understand Critical Issues in the Natural and Built Environment
Topic: Regional Infrastructure
Action: Engage the IUR in a working relationship with the Illinois Department of Transportation
Outcome: The IUR has been working with IDOT on measuring the statewide performance of the Job Access Reverse Commute project; a proposal was submitted, has been approved, and is awaiting funding by the State
Status: CompleteTopic: Brownfields and Land Re-use
Action: Engage the IUR in at least one research and funding opportunity related to the reuse of contaminated property; this can be done via Urban Scholars program
Outcome: The IUR has worked through the Applied Research Collaborative to secure a US Environmental Protection Agency grant for the City of East St. Louis for brownfield reuse and green jobs
Status: Complete
b. Understand Key Matters Facing Local Government
Topic: Taxation
Action: Complete the Land Value Taxation study with the 2009 data, and publicize appropriately
Outcome: IUR staff updated the LVT database with 2009 data, and the new document was presented to the American Statistical Association St. Louis Chapter; the presentation will become a web feature in the redesigned IUR website
Status: Complete
c. Build Databases and Literature on Issues Important to Urban Research
Topic: Property Values and Taxation
Action: Investigate the construction of a regional database on property assessments in the Metro East portion of the region
Outcome: IUR staff did a feasibility study of assembling a regional property assessment database and defined the scope of work needed to do this project; it was deemed feasible and is being pursued (see also next action)
Status: CompleteAction: Find RAPID dollars or another external grant for this project by making at least one application for funding
Outcome: The IUR pursued RAPID dollars to fund this project, but it was determined by the program officer to not qualify for funding; therefore, the IUR has prepared a grant for the Sloan Foundation to fund this project
Status: CompleteTopic: Publication and Presentation on Urban Issues
Action: Have at least one publication and/or one conference presentation on urban research; can be done as an urban scholar project
Outcome: The IUR held an Urban Scholars brownbag to discuss urban issues on campus, published St. Louis Currents on various urban issues, and then presented the St. Louis Regional Neighborhoods Conference (which had breakout sessions on various urban topics)
Status: CompleteTopic: GIS mapping as an urban research tool
Action: Identify a way to work with the Geography Department and/or the new Geospatial center to incorporate GIS into the IUR’s capacity and work
Outcome: The directors of both units met and familiarized each other with the work of the respective units; it was agreed that it would be very beneficial for the units to work together. A formal understanding will be worked out once the GIS function is fully transitioned into the Geospatial Center.
Status: Complete as possible and continuing
2. Operational Goals and Actions
a. Support the research efforts of the faculty and academic units of SIUE, as well as the governing documents of SIUE and the Graduate School.
Topic: Engage the faculty in research
Action: Maintain at least eight urban scholars at all times in FY10
Outcome: The Urban Scholars program had a total of 12 faculty members involved over the course of the fiscal year, with at least eight being active at all times
Status: CompleteAction: Appropriately publicize support activity
Outcome: Application procedures and forms have been posted on the IUR website and availability of funding has been announced in Research Highlights. The IUR is working with the Marketing and Communications division to further increase the visibility of the Urban Scholars program
Status: Complete and continuing
b. Pursue entrepreneurial activity by being a resource for local government and community institutions.
Topic: Respond to RFPs and RFQs.
Action: Initiate at least five meetings in FY10 with potential clients and make sure they know about the contractual services of the IUR.
Outcome: The IUR met with multiple prospective clients in the current fiscal year, including the City of East St. Louis (resulted in contract), the St. Louis-Jefferson Solid Waste Management District (resulted in proposal, contract anticipated), the Illinois Balanced and Restorative Justice initiative (interviewed), the Lewis and Clark Library System (resulted in pro-bono demonstration project), the Edwardsville YMCA (resulted in proposal), among many others.
Status: Complete
c. Pursue external funding for research at SIUE and the community in ways that it supports the IUR financially while advancing the IUR research agenda.
Topic: Increase the amount of grant applications coming out of the IUR.
Action: IUR affiliates will apply for $1 million in grants and contracts in FY10.
Outcome: The IUR pursued 16 projects valued at just over $1 million in FY10.
Status: Complete
d. Increase the visibility of the IUR on campus and in the bi-state region.
Topic: Appropriately prepare for and celebrate the IUR’s 10th anniversary on July 1, 2010.
Action: Engage the Marketing and Communication unit, the Chancellor’s Office, and the media to give the IUR exposure.
Outcome: A marketing plan has been developed by the Marketing and Communications unit, with a new logo having been designed, a new web URL secured, and the inclusion of the IUR in the upcoming “Thought Leaders” campaign; the Graduate Dean and Director met with the Provost to discuss the role the IUR can play, and the Provost was supportive of approaching the Chancellor to help in the marketing of the IUR
Status: Complete and continuingTopic: Make SIUE (via the IUR) the leading authority on East St. Louis.
Action: Appropriately prepare for and celebrate East St. Louis’ 150th anniversary in 2011.
Outcome: The IUR continues to plan for a significant celebration of ESL’s 150th anniversary in 2011. Budget allocations have been made, contracts for publications are in place, event planning has begun; the key event sponsored by the IUR will be a conference at the Higher Education Center involving all living authors who have written about East St. Louis.
Status: Complete and continuingAction: Engage in at least one publicly visible project involving East St. Louis.
Outcome: The IUR is a primary component of what’s being called the “University Collaborative”—an informal gathering of all the higher education institutions doing business in East St. Louis; the collaborative has been meeting regularly and was “introduced” publicly to the City Council to show this new level of cooperation in the city; the various universities are going to collaborate on the celebration of ESL’s 150th anniversary in 2011.
Status: Complete and continuingAction: Publish work (using the Currents model) on East St. Louis.
Outcome: Three works are underway: a print volume of essays (edited by Mark Abbott, Harris-Stowe), an electronic history encyclopedia (edited by Charles Lumpkins, Penn State), and an electronic archival volume (edited by Steve Kerber, SIUE). All of these have been in work for FY10 and will have deliverables in FY11. Virginia Publishing has been formally engaged.
Status: Complete as possible and continuing
e. Fulfill all fiscal, professional, and personnel obligations as a unit of the Graduate School.
Topic: Maintain all necessary reports and standards.
Action: Establish IRB procedure for the IUR.
Outcome: The IUR internally has reviewed its IRB procedures and found that, internally, we are compliant with University requirements. The work done by the IUR (primarily anonymous survey work) is exempt, though there are possible projects that may come to the IUR through the Urban Scholars program that might need IRB review and approval. We have worked this into our Urban Scholars documents. A larger concern was raised that our clients may not be in compliance. In cases where this is suspected, IUR staff will make an inquiry, request that the other institution pursue appropriate IRB review, and if this is not available, run the IUR’s portion of the project through the SIUE IRB. Please note that there have not been any instances of unethical research, and that this consideration is proactive rather than reactive.
Status: CompleteAction: Maintain ethics certification for all IUR employees.
Outcome: All employees of the IUR are compliant.
Status: Complete
C. External Grants and Contracts Received
D. Outreach Activities (major events only)
