Marquette selected for Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities' anchor mission initiative

October 12, 2018

MILWAUKEE — Marquette University has been selected as one of 33 member institutions of the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities to participate in its Higher Education Anchor Mission Initiative.

The initiative is a national collaboration aimed at assisting CUMU members to more rapidly and effectively advance an anchor mission strategy within their institutions, higher education and the communities they serve. It is a joint project of CUMU and The Democracy Collaborative, a national research institute developing strategies for a more democratic foundation.

"In keeping with Marquette's tradition as a Catholic, Jesuit university, this collaboration will enable the university to continue to serve as a strong community partner with other organizations throughout the region," said Dr. Daniel Bergen, executive director of Marquette's Office of Community Engagement. "As mission-driven organizations, higher education institutions are positioned to support the community they serve, and an anchor mission strategy helps colleges and universities to better live out their public missions."

Marquette officials will participate in a peer learning exchange at the 2018 CUMU annual conference in Chicago in October 2018.

Established in 2016, Marquette's Office of Community Engagement serves as the central clearinghouse for the university's community engagement activities, with a focus on community-based research partnerships. The Office of Community Engagement works closely with Near West Side Partners, Inc., which aims to recruit new restaurants, grocers, food processors and manufacturers to the community.