University Economic Development Association partners with TU

TU, UEDA to share economic development best practices

The University Economic Development Association (UEDA) has selected TU's DECO division to headquarter its operations and management team.

Established in 1976, the UEDA is a national organization dedicated to serving the nation's institutions of higher education and their economic development affiliates. It was recently reorganized to focus on the overall impact of higher education on economic development issues, including effectiveness, best practices, metrics and emerging opportunities. The UEDA is the only organization representing the entire spectrum of U.S. higher education-based economic development. The association helps members build relationships among institutions of higher education and economic development agencies.

The UEDA and Towson University will work together to share economic development best practices among UEDA members, to increase membership and to hold annual summits. The 2008 summit, “Policy, Practice, & Partnership—Effective Engagement and Emerging Trends,” will take place November 9–11 in St. Petersburg, Fla. TU will also host and maintain UEDA's Web site.

"The expectations and demands on higher education to respond to economic development issues are at an all-time high," says UEDA president Genna Hurd, University of Kansas' Institute for Policy and Social Research. "The opportunities for UEDA are significant.

"We believe DECO at Towson University has the expertise and energy to assist UEDA in becoming the preeminent association for higher education engagement in economic development.”

“This partnership affords TU and UEDA a wonderful opportunity to share best practices among universities of distinction and economic development agencies across the United States,” said Dyan Brasington, TU's associate vice president for economic and community outreach.

Visit the UEDA Web site for additional information or contact Leslie Pachol, x43776.

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