Land-Grant Universities and the "New" Public Engagement

The University is sponsoring a conference in celebration of the Lincoln Centennial entitled "Lincoln and the Morrill Act: The Unfinished Work of Public Universities." Lincoln signed the Morrill Act, creating land-grant colleges, in 1862. Their original mission was to provide training in agriculture and "mechanic arts" to "promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions in life" (7 U.S.C. Sec. 304). As a result, land-grant colleges and universities developed some of the programs that are still familiar to us today -- like the University's expansive public outreach through its extension program.

But since the 19th century, land-grant universities have been on the forefront of other forms of public engagement that have involved many other parts of the University community, including the Sociology Department. Our department is at the forefront of knowledge production that can assist in finding solutions to pressing social problems. Our own faculty have been doing research on the relationship between health, the environment, and inequality, participating in a collaborative research environment at a University that has placed research on health and environment at the top of its agenda for the future. That research could form the basis for creative solutions and policies for developing a healthier, cleaner society.

In addition, our students participate in our efforts to reach out to our surrounding community. This semester (and next) our undergraduates will be participating in a court watch project on behalf of a local domestic violence agency. They will attend court hearings on orders of protection sought by victims of domestic violence and collect data on what they observe. Their observations will help the agency serve their clients.

When he signed the Morrill Act, Lincoln probably wouldn't have foreseen that the tremendous changes in the meaning and extent of public engagement at state universities, but those of us who are proud to do research and teach in a land-grant institution know that our work here simply expands the long tradition of public service envisioned long ago.

For more information about the conference, follow this link. If you're interested in attending, let me know.