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Mesa already has Mesa Community College, and is next door to Arizona State University, but campuses are still scarce in the region:

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How to create community=university partnerships that can be sustained over time is the theme of Volume 4 (2011) of the journal, Gateways: the International Journal of Community Research & Engagement. There are quite a few excellent pieces of interest to planners in this volume—which is not at all focused on infrastructure. Definitely worth a read if your work on campus involves planning for workable community partnerships in some way. 

Requires free registration to access. Here are two examples from the many interesting articles in this issue:

Collaboration Between Universities: An effective way of sustaining community-university partnerships ... 

[E]xplores the potential for universities to collaborate on building effective engagement mechanisms (such as helpdesks, ‘hub and spoke’ contact models, and research groups to review ideas for activities) that will support an ongoing flow of new projects and partnerships over time. ...

In an ‘age of austerity’, we contend that collaboration between universities may be an efficient and effective way of engaging with local communities but that such inter-university collaboration is not cost-free and requires high-level strategic buy-in by institutions. ...

However, the resources required to create the ‘infrastructure’ to support community engagement are sometimes overlooked. A significant proportion of these costs are for academic and administrative support staff time, although there may also be marketing and promotion costs as well as general office-related overheads.

A Mutually Beneficial Relationship: University of the Third Age and a regional university campus is definitely of interest to planners with regard to engaging “active retirees” in the academic community.

A mutually beneficial relationship has developed over the past 15 years between a regional South Australian branch of the University of the Third Age (U3A) and the local university campus. Arising from the initiative of a community member, the group sought assistance from the university, and has now become integrated into campus life.

The ‘third age’ is the age of active retirement, following childhood and youth and then the age of full-time employment, and preceding a more dependent old age for some. 

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We’ve been watching, and talking with, the International Town-Gown Association (ITGA) since its inception. SCUP’s Southern Region collaborated with the ITGA recently on a one-day conference, Town & Gown: Building Partnerships for Prosperity at Clemson University. There is a need for such an organization, and we’re glad to see this latest accomplishment.

On April 17, the ITGA launches a 6-week, virtual course of study resulting in a certificate in Town-Gown Relations. Check it out. Here’s a bit more about it:

Students complete a six-week certificate program with live instruction. Students are expected to attend a two-hour session twice per week. Modules will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m EST.

Designed for working professionals, the modules will be taught in the evenings and will be recorded for students who cannot attend during the designated time.

A comprehensive, all-inclusive test will be administered at the end of the six-week module before certifications are awarded.

Certificates will be mailed to the address students provided, or students can opt to receive their certificates during a ceremony at the ITGA Annual Conference.

Students attend three required modules and three elective modules of their choice.