University of Wisconsin - Extension

Outreach Scholarship 2003, a national celebration of outreach education and university-community engagement, will be held Oct. 12-14 in Madison, Wis.

More than 150 presenters, representing a variety of academic and professional disciplines, will offer case studies, research and hands-on workshops. All share an interest in outreach education, community engagement and applied research as important components of excellence in higher education.

Ray Suarez, senior correspondent for public television's "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer," will be the keynote speaker. In his book, "The Old Neighborhood: What We Lost in the Great Suburban Migration: 1966-1999," Suarez states the case for saving our once vital urban neighborhoods from decline. Suarez will discuss the ongoing struggle to revitalize American cities, and the roles that universities and colleges must play in this effort.

James Votruba, president of Northern Kentucky University, will discuss strategies for more integrated and sustained engagement, and ways that scholars can serve as learners and teachers in tackling issues facing communities and regions. Votruba chaired the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Task Force on Public Engagement.

People from all areas of higher education can benefit from this learning and networking opportunity, including faculty and staff members representing:

• Continuing education
• Cooperative extension
• Business & economic development
• Distance learning & online education
• Governmental affairs
• Public relations
• Public television and radio broadcasting
• Service learning
• Technology transfer

Outreach Scholarship 2003 is co-sponsored by The Ohio State University, The Pennsylvania State University and University of Wisconsin-Extension. Learn more about this conference and preview some of the scheduled presentations at http://www.uwex.edu/outreach