The 2023 International Town & Gown Association's City & University Relations Conference
Hosted by Colorado State University and the City of Fort Collins, Colorado
Building Resilient Communities
Background and Invitation to Submit
Colorado State University and the City of Fort Collins are honored and excited to host the 2023 ITGA City & University Relations Conference June 7-9, 2023.
The 2023 conference theme is “Building Resilient Communities.” Since their beginnings, Colorado State University and the City of Fort Collins have lived this theme as they navigate shared experiences of growth and expansion as well as devastation and loss. Through innovation, imagination, and creative partnerships, the two entities have worked together to create a vibrant and thriving community that is internationally recognized for its town-gown relations.
Recognized as one of the best places to live in Colorado by an article recently published in Nasdaq, Fort Collins is well-known for its burgeoning breweries, platinum rated bike-friendly culture, vibrant arts and music scene, as well as for its health-conscious and “green” way of living (not to mention a leading public research university). Playing off these themes, we are seeking innovative proposals on topics that provide insight into the evolving nature of the work of universities, government entities, and other community partners. The call for proposals closes Wednesday, February 15, 2023.
ITGA Core Competencies
Each proposal must connect to one of ITGA’s Core Competencies below. For more information, click here.
- Building Community: Strengthening, adding, and growing diverse, equitable and inclusive opportunities for all members of the community
- Transforming Relationships: Creating collaborative partnerships to foster economic growth and success of the community
- Wellbeing: Creating a balanced approach to health, safety and wellness to faculty, staff, students and community members
- Resiliency: Responding to environmental challenges
Track Descriptions
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Track 1: BEERS – From creation, to consumption, to effects, people think of different things when they think of beer. The Beers track explores how communities and universities balance the various needs and demands of their residents on everything from brewing beverages to behaviors. Suggested topics include:
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Track 2: BIKES – The future depends on the steps we take today. University communities are looked to as thought leaders in addressing climate change. The Bikes track explores how we are partnering to creatively tackle these wicked global problems. Suggested topics include:
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Track 3: BUCKS – Our town and gown communities are economic powerhouses that spark ideas and drive innovation. People flock to our downtowns and campuses to listen, learn, move, eat, and spend their time and money. The Bucks track explores how we build and renew spaces to the ways in which we use them to entertain. Suggested topics include:
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Track 4: BELONGING – Now, maybe more than ever, we are aware of when we are genuinely alone and when we are truly understood and embraced. The Belonging track explores how communities are powerful, and we play a significant role in developing and strengthening them. Suggested topics include:
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Who Should Submit
- Mayors
- City administrators
- Elected officials
- University/college presidents
- Vice presidents
- City/campus police officers
- City/campus planners
- City/campus housing administrators
- Parking/transportation officers
- Students/community members
- Private housing developers
- And many others sharing a unified town gown vision
Alternative Sessions
Mobile Sessions: Conference attendees from the Fort Collins community are invited to submit proposals for mobile sessions. Mobile sessions offer participants the ability to leave the conference site for unique interactive experiences. Each mobile session will be scheduled for no more than two hours. Transportation and any other costs are the responsibility of the presenters in coordination with the Host Committee. Mobile sessions will be submitted, evaluated and accepted on the same basis as other proposals for concurrent sessions and should address learning objectives and outcomes. These are not meant to be merely campus and/or community tours. Proposals should include a logistics timeline indicating travel time to and from the conference site. Mobile session topics must fit into one of the six tracks.
TED Style: New this year is an option for 10-20 minute "TED Style" talks that will be scattered throughout the conference.
Presentation Information and Important Dates
- Time: Sessions are limited to a total of 60 minutes, keeping into account the desire for interactive sessions encouraging attendee participation and Ted Style is 20 minutes.
- Technology: Rooms are equipped with audio/visual capabilities-projector screens and/or flat screen TVs and adaptors to connect to any kind of laptop/mobile device.
- Proposal submission deadlines: You must submit your proposal on or before Wednesday, February 15, 2023.
- Authors notified of selection: You will be notified on or before March 31, 2023 regarding the status of your proposal.
Suggested Guidelines for a Successful Session