To: University of Arkansas Colleagues on all campuses who might have an interest in partnering with Arkansas communities through "real world" class projects (graduate or undergraduate) during the upcoming academic year.

From: Otto J. Loewer , UAEDI Director (479-575-5118; OJL@uark.edu)

RE: Invitation to participate in SEED (Students Engaged in Economic Development) d iscussion to explore possible class project opportunities for the upcoming Academic Year ( If possible, let me know if you plan to attend but prior reservations are not required. )

TIME AND PLACE: 3: 3 0 pm, Tuesday, April 10, 2007, Fayetteville, Biological and Agricultural Engineering Conference Room , Engineering Hall, R oom 214

SEED and SERVICE LEARNING: SEED is a type of service learning program intended to help build a community or region one project at a time. The expectation is that one SEED project builds on another and will lead to another . SEED link s students and faculty to the long-term needs of communities , thereby providing a proverbial intellectual talent pipeline that connects communities to higher education and then returns again, creating an upward spiral of prosperity and well-being for all .

SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITY: During the next academic year, UAEDI will work to greatly expand the SEED program throughout Arkansas.  The particular focus will be the Crossroads Coalition, a 10-county regional broad-based (economic, community, education, leadership) development in the Delta within an 80 mile radius of Memphis . The Crossroads Coalition is quickly becoming a state and national model for regional broad-based development in rural communities, and UA SEED projects have played and are playing a significant role. 

AGENDA DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR APRIL 10 MEETING:

How can a class projects make a big difference in Arkansas?
How can faculty link with a community or other faculty with similar interests?
How can funding for SEED projects be obtained?
How can faculty and students receive recognition through SEED projects?
What are the expectations from SEED projects?
What are examples of successful SEED projects?
What are the next steps for SEED?

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

About UAEDI: http://uaedi.cast.uark.edu
About the Crossroads Coalition : http://CrossroadsCoalition.org
About SEED: Click on SEED under Core Activities on UAEDI home page.
About SEED in the Crossroads Coalition: Click on SEED in right column of Crossroads Coalition home page.  Note that PDF's of UA Interior Design and UA Landscape Architecture SEED projects may be downloaded from this location as well.

SEED in general - Contact Otto Loewer (479-575-5118; ojl@uark.edu)