Carlow University and the City of Pittsburgh: Town & Gown Relationship

Abstract

Small private institutions of higher education face challenges related to enrollment, long-term financial viability, and declining public opinion. Strategic thinking and planning are critical to institutional sustainability. Our research examined one such institution in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and its redevelopment of a portion of campus into an education complex to meet both institutional and community needs. The town-gown relationship between the university and the city was the lens of analysis. Qualitative research methods included interviews, document analysis, and social media review. A conceptual framework for town-gown best practices was created from the literature review. Findings and recommendations centered on this conceptual framework in four key areas: purposeful communication, participatory engagement, collaborative planning, and shared resources. Recommendations are presented as foundational, designed for improvements that can be implemented faster and with lower levels of resources, and advanced, designed for long-term strategic implementation that requires higher resource levels and institutional engagement.