LINKS Conference at VCU explores public university, state government ties

By Marcia Meredith

RICHMOND, Va. — University leaders, elected officials and policy makers from across the country will examine ways to strengthen the linkage between state governments and public universities during the 8^th Annual LINKS Conference titled, "Serving the Public in the 21^st Century." The national conference, hosted by Virginia Commonwealth University's Center for Public Policy, will be held at the Richmond Omni Hotel, 100 S. 12^th St.

Conference keynote speakers will be Eugene P. Trani, Ph.D., VCU president, and L. Douglas Wilder, former Virginia governor and distinguished professor in VCU's Center for Public Policy.

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Since the formation of the LINKS in 1993, a crucial policy debate has been taking place across the country over the appropriate role of public universities and the relationship between those institutions and state government," said Robert Holsworth, Ph.D., director of VCU's Center for Public Policy. "VCU is an appropriate setting to host such an event because of the ties we have with our state government and community."

Previous LINKS conferences have been held at California State University at Sacramento, the University of Georgia, the University of Colorado, Michigan State University, the University of Illinois at Springfield and the University of Massachusetts at Boston.

This year, presentations by nearly 100 speakers and panelists will be made during the following sessions:

• Public Universities: Service and Partnership Models in the 21^st Century
• Education Reform: Accountability, Civic Education, Information Technology
• Partnerships to Promote Economic and Technological Development
• Environmental, Land Use and Transportation Policy

President Trani will give his address during a dinner reception at 7 p.m. on April 13. Wilder will deliver his speech at a 12:30 p.m. luncheon on April 14.

Additionally, a session titled, "The Controversy Over the Standards of Learning Curriculum", will be held at the Virginia Historical Society from 4:30-6 p.m. on April 14. Moderated by Roderick McDavis, Ph.D., VCU provost and vice president for academic affairs, panelists include: John Oehler, Ph.D., dean, VCU School of Education; William Bosher, Ph.D., VCU distinguished professor and executive director of VCU's Commonwealth Education Policy Institute; Mark Christie, counsel to the speaker of the house, Virginia General Assembly; and James Dyke, chairman of the board, Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce.

Conference registration is required. The full conference price is $225 and $75 for students. The registration fee for attending the conference one day only is $125 and $40 for students.

For details, contact Thomas Shields, Ph.D., program coordinator in VCU's Center for Public Policy at (804) 828-6837 or tjshield@vcu.edu. A registration form, LINKS background and full list of participants can be found at the LINKS 2000 Web site at www.vcu.edu/cppweb/LINKS/register.htm.