 Q
and A about neighborhoods
Questions:
Q: What is a neighborhood?
A: A neighborhood is a place where people come together with
common ideas around a specific theme that addresses the College’s
mission and vision. Currently, there are three neighborhoods within
the College: Teaching and Learning;
Family, Organizations, Community Contexts,
and Systems; and Social, Psychological, and Physical
Development. You can learn more about each of these neighborhoods on
this Web site.
Q: What is a block?
A: A block is actually a network of people (faculty, staff,
students, community) within a neighborhood who share common
interests and come together to live our College mission in a
multidisciplinary way. Block members operate within the network to
produce tangible benefits or outcomes (e.g. a grant, a curriculum, a
research project, a certificate, a paper, a course, a programmatic
change, an accreditation process). This network needs to include
people from more than one unit in the College and blocks may also
include individuals from other University units as well as external
community partners. Blocks welcome anyone interested in the area of
focus.
Q: What are examples of blocks?
A: Here are examples of existing and new blocks that are
forming:
- Community partnerships for promoting academic and social
success in schools (ComPASS) – Contact Jenifer McComas,
jmccomas@umn.edu
- Faculty inside and outside of the College have formed a
block on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) to
pursue applying for an NSF grant – Contact Tamara Moore,
tamara@umn.edu
- Global youth development – Contact John Moravec,
moravec@umn.edu
- High school reform and access to post-secondary education –
Contact David Johnson,
johns006@umn.edu
- Immigrant student and parent issues – Contact Sarah Axtell,
axtel002@umn.edu
- Licensed school professionals – Contact Mary Bents,
mbents@umn.edu
- Social justice – Contact Lisa Albrecht,
lalbrech@umn.edu
Q: How do I start a block?
A: Follow the steps at Forming a
neighborhood block.
Q: How do I join a block?
A: As blocks are forming, information will be posted on this Web
site. Contact the lead associate dean listed.
Q: How do I find others to join me
if I have an idea for a block?
A: Contact a neighborhood leader or one of the associate deans
and they will help to find others who may want to join you.
Q: Why would I want to join a block when I already
collaborate with others across and outside
of the University of Minnesota?
A: The College wants to reward and acknowledge the excellent
collaborations that already exist with others. However, we believe
that there are advantages in forging new partnerships with
colleagues within the College and the larger community. For example,
a faculty member engaged in a community-based research project might
benefit from the additional perspective of a new assistant professor
in a different discipline within the College. A faculty member
wanting to design a new course could collaborate with faculty from
different disciplines who may have extensive resources and contacts
to contribute.
Q: What resources are available to
start a block?
A: The Dean’s Office can help provide the following:
- coffee and light refreshments during meetings
- duplication of materials
- consultation from within and outside the
University
- arrangement for meeting space
- consultation by grant coordinators
- consultation by methodologists/statisticians
The neighborhoods
Family, Organizations, Community Contexts,
and Systems Social, Psychological, and Physical
Development
Teaching and Learning
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