Higher Education’s Role in the Support of Diverse and Ever-Changing New American Cities

Katherine S Conway-Turner

doi:10.18060/23553

Abstract

Urban institutions are typically located in diverse and vibrant cities. This diversity has changed over the decades, thus requiring campuses to address the complexity that is seen as these new American cities evolve. In this article the city of Buffalo is discussed as a city that manifests a continuous change in population diversity with a significant increase in the immigrant and refugee populations. The ways that Buffalo State College has evolved its outreach to support immigrants, refugees, and new Americans is discussed, approaches that include ways to support entry and success within the city school systems, support for families and adults learning the English language and preparing for citizenship exams, convening and support to navigate their new location, and assistance in business efforts. Extensions of the mission of urban institutions to support these new members of city communities allows campuses to participate fully in addressing the needs of this important segment of our cities. Immigrant and refugee families add to the vibrancy and economic success of our communities and facilitating their adjustment, integration, and success within our cities not only provides needed support for new American families, but adds to the current and future economic and social success of the community where they now call home. This is an important aspect of the urban anchor mission.

Highlights

Contemporary urban environments are sometimes called “new American cities.” In this context, journalists, legislators, and community leaders focus on and describe the current complexity of cultures, peoples, ethnicities, languages, and economic layers that are ever-present within cities like Buffalo, New York and other urban landscapes across the country
It is important to understand that these cities have been changing throughout their histories and the new faces that you see today were once represented by other peoples, some who were newcomers, and many that, at one point, called this city or region their home
Anchor institutions are place-based organizations, including IHEs and health systems, which link closely to their local communities because When an anchor institution like Buffalo State recognizes the ever-changing diversity of our city it is important to strategically address the question: how can we address the needs, hopes, and challenges of those new to our community? In many ways, the obvious connection is ensuring that these newcomers can matriculate into our campuses and take the classes and receive the degrees and certificates that will allow them to be most successful