TownGown World will focus on collaborative community planning processes that improve the wellbeing of all residents living in communities that surround higher educational institutions. The site will have both an international and academic focus, examining the planning processes being used in different geographical areas around the world to address near campus neighbourhood well being.
EDITOR'S COMMENTS : Living in a near campus community during a period of rapid enrolment expansion piqued an interest in the town and gown dynamics in play as universities scrambled to accommodate more students ,and the community struggled to preserve their quality of life.
Research into what other town and gown communities were doing to address these issues led to contact with Mr. Bob Karrow, editor of, as well as Dr.Richard Tyler, editor of the . These websites provided excellent information which was used as a model for the .There were a number of academics that were also doing research into the town and gown relationship, none more prominent than Dr.Darren Smith, who coined the term studentification that is used so often in Town and Gown conferences around the world.
Universities and host towns have an incentive to cooperate, as the schools require city services and need city approval for long-range plans, while the university towns need remuneration for public services provided. What has been missing in many instances is the input of the near campus neighborhood, something that the engaged university is beginning to work with through community partnerships and joint planning. These universities recognize that a vibrant near campus community is an asset to the university in attracting top students and faculty.
This third leg of the stool is something TownGown World will focus on. My purpose in developing the site is not an attempt to duplicate the information already available. The intent is to tap into the thoughts and expertise of researchers, politicans,students,university administrators and community activists from different geographical areas who are heavily involved in the ongoing evolvement of Town and Gown. The initial group of contributing journalists meet these criteria. More will be added as our resource base expands.
The purpose of TownGown World is to act as a resource for you. Feedback on how to improve is always appreciated. Click on the feedback button on the home page, and give your ideas. Looking forward to hearing from you!
Rob Payne Editor
TownGown World : What people are saying about us Federation of Urban Neighbourhoods (FUN) , CAN There is a new website dedicated to examining collaborative community planning relationships between Town and Gown communities. TownGown World is an excellent resource for all neighbourhoods that live near higher educational institutions.
Society for College and University Planning (SCUP), USA Joining the wonderful College Town Life website, this new Canada-based resource is all about "town and gown planning from around the world." Editor Rob Payne is producing an excellent resource and he has a strong focus on planning issues. For example, one page asks the question: Collaborative university/community planning. Does it exist? On that page are articles about this topic from the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States.
This resource is well worth a bookmark in your Web browser, and a visit back from time to time in order to see how it grows. Collegetown Life USA New Web site for the exchange of information about town/gown planning around the world. A site tailor-made for the Boston area Universal Hub, USA TownGown World is just what it sounds like: A site dedicated to examining relationships between communities and the colleges in their midsts.Includes a glossary, including such words as "studentification" and "tipping point" ("A point reached where near campus communities no longer have the necessary volume of permanent residents needed to support traditional neighbourhood services").
Town Gown Network,Colorado State,USA A website that focuses on collaborative community planning processes for communities that surround higher educational institutions is now on the web. The site will have both an international and academic focus, examining the planning processes being used in different geographical areas around the world to address near campus neighbourhood well being.
About the Editor : Rob Payne is the editor of towngownworld.com, a website dedicated to exploring diverse geographical planning and decision making processes designed to maintain and enhance the quality of life in campus town communities. A long time resident of a near campus community in Ontario, Canada, Rob's heavy involvement in town and gown issues at both the local and provincial level give him a well rounded perspective on the community impacts of living near a growing higher education institution. A well travelled retired President of a global business operation within a Swedish multinational corporation, Rob's interest in near campus planning took on an international perspective that focuses on the many similarities of town and gown issues across different geographical areas. Rob has served as President of his local community association, as well as a board member of a number of provincial organizations in Ontario such as the and the . He currently lives in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
