Initiatives

USU strengthens America's cities by concentrating on three areas—creating a competitive workforce, building strong communities, and improving the health of a diverse population.

Creating a Competitive Workforce

USU works to meet 21st century workforce demands by addressing the need for more training in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

USU members collaborate with urban school leaders to achieve measurable progress in teaching and learning and to ensure that our best teachers are placed in urban classrooms. To do this, we are focusing our work in five areas:

  • Urban teacher preparation programs,
  • Transition programs for new teachers,
  • Teacher tracking and data systems,
  • "Turnaround" schools, and
  • K-20 pipeline partnerships.

List of USU research and publications

Building Strong Communities

Coalition universities are major contributors to their local economies and have a stake in their success. With their investments, expertise and collaboration with local governments and non-profit organizations, USU campuses are revitalizing urban neighborhoods and researching issues that support city planning and development.

In addition, coalition institutions use innovative research to create new businesses, transfer technology, and develop industry clusters in cutting-edge fields. This initiative focuses on three important economic drivers:

  • Urban neighborhood revitalization,
  • Regional economic development, and
  • Community and university capacity building activities.

List of USU research and publications

Improving the Health of a Diverse Population

USU reduces disparities in health among urban groups by preparing more culturally diverse and competent health workers. Working with our communities, we are focusing on:

  • Engaged education in urban communities,
  • K-20 health careers and diversity pipeline partnerships,
  • Training programs for community health workers,
  • Cultural competency programs,
  • Urban health curriculum, and
  • Career development for researchers studying health disparities.

List of USU research and publications