Institutions of higher education have vast potential to affect the vitality of the local communities in which they are embedded by applying all their capacities to that end in line with the Anchor Mission. Anchors intentionally apply their institutional effort to this end with varied approaches, and with varied results which are often geographically uneven. Defining the target of local institutional effort presents substantial challenges for institutions in focusing resources to do the most good, navigating relationships with the broader community (especially those left out geographically), measuring that effort and the associated outcomes, among other things.
Five institutions involved in the Anchor Learning Network (ALN) will discuss their approaches to defining local and provide insights into the implications of these decisions on institutional strategy and measurable impact. Their approaches have varied, with some having well established local target geographies when beginning Anchor work while others with more complex situations (and multiple physical locations) have had to approach this decision differently.
A moderated panel discussion with representatives from these five institutions will address relevant topic areas on defining local and aligning measurement and strategy, including:
- The internal process for defining a local target area
- Aligning institutional assets to the needs of marginalized communities (and how to handle those excluded from this local definition)
- Considerations for adaptations or flexibility in defining this area between different efforts within an institution
- Communication, both internally and externally, about the local target area
- How defining local can lead to greater collective impacts and policy initiatives
