New committee seeks to strengthen local ties

Central Michigan University has been proud to call Mount Pleasant home since its establishment in 1892. For over a century, university and community partners have worked together in numerous ways to support students, welcome visitors, fuel economic growth and showcase all the area has to offer.

Now, a new Community Relations Committee seeks to strengthen those relationships further, focusing on collaborative projects that positively impact students, families, community residents and visitors. CMU President Neil MacKinnon said the committee's objectives include identifying initiatives that promote local economic growth and community well-being.

“CMU students, faculty and staff are already regularly engaging with community partners, and we’re proud of those successful collaborations,” MacKinnon said. “With this new committee, we hope to expand and strengthen those relationships. Together, we will identify opportunities to work together on initiatives with the potential for truly meaningful positive impact.”

MacKinnon said forming the new committee addresses the third goal of Priority Three of the CMU 2023-2028 Strategic Plan, which calls for the creation of a “committee of civic leaders and appropriate university stakeholders to address mutually beneficial opportunities and activities to jointly enhance the university and local communities.” It also will help to foster a more welcoming community on- and off-campus for students, faculty and staff, which also is an objective of the third strategic priority, he said. MacKinnon said the committee also supports work underway on the plan’s Priority Two, which seeks to better understand how CMU can serve communities throughout the state.

Intentional partnerships

As committee members introduced themselves at the start of the meeting, they shared their visions for what a good university-community relationship should look like. One theme that was mentioned frequently was intentional collaboration.

Jennifer Verleger, superintendent of Mount Pleasant Public Schools, said she knew of several instances where members of the university community were volunteering in local schools, but felt there were more opportunities for more groups to get involved. A more holistic approach to the relationship between the university and the local school system could provide greater engagement, she said.

“I’d like to see a more coordinated, intentional approach to our partnerships,” Verleger said.

Another emerging theme was understanding that the town and the university depend heavily on each other to thrive through ups and downs, as evidenced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“What is good for the university is often good for the community, and vice versa,” said Mount Pleasant City Manager Aaron Desentz.

The group noted that enrollment increases and decreases impact the local community; the community also plays an important role in students’ decision to attend the university.

“When you visit a smaller town with a college, you can tell right away if that relationship is going well – if it’s working or not,” said John Hunter, co-owner of several local restaurants and an events promotion company. “When it is working well, it can be a major draw for that area.”

Committee membership

The committee includes nearly 30 individuals representing the City of Mount Pleasant and the university. Members from the community, listed in alphabetical order, are:

MacKinnon said he hoped to invite at least one additional community member to the committee in the weeks ahead.

Members from CMU, listed in alphabetical order, are:

Rowley, who is a fourth-generation community resident, agreed to serve as one of the committee co-chairs. She will serve alongside Otteman, whose family also has been in the community for several generations. Both are CMU graduates, and the two have previously served together on numerous community committees, task forces and boards.

“Mount Pleasant was founded in 1889. Central Michigan University was founded three years later in 1892. That was a partnership by design,” Otteman said. "We are here today continuing the work that this university and this community started over 130 years ago.”

Next steps

The committee held its first meeting on Wednesday, January 15, in the Strosacker Room of Park Library at CMU. MacKinnon welcomed the members and provided the committee’s charge, and members discussed the committee goals. Initially, these goals include but may not be limited to: