Partnerships and collaboration are keys to success for Youngstown and the university

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YSU President David C. Sweet

EDITOR:

The recent Vindicator editorial regarding the “positive developments at one of the Mahoning Valley’s most important assets, Youngstown State University,” is a tribute to the hard work of faculty, staff, administration and board of trustees. While we appreciate the recognition, it is important to emphasize that the accomplishments at YSU are also the result of partnerships and collaborations that the university has developed over the last several years. Partnerships, collaboration and cooperation are not only a key to YSU’s success, but to the future success of the entire Mahoning Valley.

For example, in the editorial, two important success stories were highlighted: 1) the Board of Trustees’ approving interim financing for $40 million in construction that will lead to the development of a new state-of-the-art building for the Williamson College of Business Administration and other campus master plan projects, and 2) the substantial growth in grant funding for faculty research.

The business college project emerged from the university and the city of Youngstown collaborating on the Youngstown 2010 Plan and YSU’s Centennial Master Plan, an unprecedented City-University partnership. As a result, the site for the new business college was identified on the southern edge of the campus, moving the university closer to downtown. Other campus sites could have been used, but it was the strong collaboration that was developed among Mayor Jay Williams, city council, Bishop Murry and the Diocese of Youngstown, as well as the university, that led to this success. Drive by Rayen Avenue and Wood Street near the St. Columba Cathedral and YWCA, and you see the site that for many years was dominated by a blighted and abandoned former car dealership. The project is also being made possible through the generous donors to the university’s Centennial Capital Campaign and capital funds from the State of Ohio.

Another example of partnerships is the growth in research grants attained by faculty and staff. This success, in part, is due to the collaboration among faculty and the efforts of Congressman Tim Ryan, who helped secure a $2.1 million grant to establish a Transportation and Materials Engineering Center in our new STEM College. The grant provided the momentum that led to our faculty successfully competing for a state grant of $2 million from the Governor’s Third Frontier program, in partnership with Fireline TCON, a very successful high tech company located on Andrews Avenue.

Just two more examples: drive down West Federal Street and see the progress being made as a result of the City, Youngstown Community Improvement Corporation, the Regional Chamber, State of Ohio, Youngstown Business Incubator, Symphony Society, City–Scape, Turning Technologies, the Mahoning Valley Historical Society, and many private entrepreneurs. Also, the recent GM-Lordstown announcement was the result of collaboration between union and management, the state of Ohio, local governments, and the supplier networks that all came together to benefit the Valley.

Certainly, the news headlines of the past several days are disconcerting and deserve our attention. But let’s not lose sight that, when you step back and look at our city and our university, there is also much to celebrate.

DAVID C. SWEET, president

Youngstown State University