About the Institute and Its Goals

 

The Missouri State University Board of Governors created the Institute in the fall of 2005 upon the recommendation of Missouri State University President Dr. Michael Nietzel.
Dr. Nietzel charged the Institute with being a catalyst for addressing the research and service needs of the region in an effort to better the quality of life of those who live in the many communities served by the University.

 

Dr. Nietzel also charged the Institute with identifying and engaging university faculty in addressing those needs and to assist in the process of securing funds which may be needed to accomplish its mission. While assistance in finding funding will be provided, the Institute itself can not provide funds.

 

To learn more about the Institute, please choose from the topics listed below:

 

Goals of the Institute

To Serve a Liaison Function

The Institute serves a liaison function between:

• for-profit and not-for-profit organizations with research or service needs related to addressing the social problems faced by the communities Missouri State serves,
• faculty with expertise that addresses the research and service needs related to those problems, and
• potential sources of funding, if needed.

To Promote Outreach Scholarship

Faculty research and service designed to serve the community may be referred to variously as outreach scholarship, applied research or action research. Regardless of what it is called, it is research and service which, in this case, is intended to assist community organizations in improving the quality of life of the clientele and communities they serve.

To Help Fulfill the University's Public Affairs Mission

Missouri State University's unique state-wide mission is to be involved in public affairs. As such, President Nietzel has identified "Helping make Missouri's Future" as an important goal. The Institute is designed to contribute to that goal.

To Identify Community Needs

The Community Advisory Panel will assist in soliciting ideas for needed research and service by establishing a line of communication between itself and organizations in the communities it serves. The Institute's Campus Advisory Committee and the Good Community Committee (Springfield/Greene County, Missouri) will assist in providing insight into the needs of the larger community.

Of special import are the findings found in an annual publication entitled Community Focus: A Report for Springfield and Greene County. The needs identified in that report as 'Red Flags" are of special concern. Upon the recommendation of the Good Community Committee, the Institute will focus on the 'Red Flags' which deal with children in poverty. If requested, the Institute will give special attention to assisting with the Community Focus project in order to make its annual report on the well-being of the community as comprehensive and accurate as possible.

To Publicize the Solicitation for Faculty Research and Service Providers

Once the Institute has identified one or more topics for research or service, it will publicize the need for faculty research and service providers in an effort to match those faculty to the organizations seeking assistance. The Institute's Web site will serve as one mechanism for disseminating such information.

To Assist in Providing Capacity Building

The Institute will work with communities in the region to provide leadership and professional development for individuals who serve on boards or in other leadership positions in government and non-profit organizations.

To Assist in Finding Funds to Achieve its Missions

Some research and service may be provided without the need for additional funding. When funding is required, the Institute, the Office of Sponsored Research and Programs, and others will attempt to provide assistance in finding those funds. If grants are obtained, the administration of them will be conducted through the Office of Sponsored Research and Programs.

To Disseminate Research Findings

Once a faculty member has completed the needed research or service, the results will be as widely disseminated as possible in order to maximize the impact of the findings for communities throughout the country. The only restriction might be that the findings may be proprietary - a possession of the organization requesting the research or service. When that occurs, the Institute will do what it can to make as many of the findings public as possible so that faculty researchers and service providers may use the findings in pursuit of their own professional purposes.

Click here to learn more about the research function of the Institute.