"Public research universities face enormous challenges in the 21st century: waning fiscal support, a loss of public confidence, and a persistent lack of diversity. Perhaps no challenge is more compelling, however, than the obligation to serve society. The time has come for increased commitment to and removal of barriers preventing collaborative, interdisciplinary, socially relevant research and learning."

This is the lead paragraph to an article written  for a March 2005 issues of Inside Higher Eduation, by Dr. Richard A Cherwitz of the University of Texas. The full article can be read at:  http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2005/03/09/cherwitz1

This is an extremely important question for the social benefit sector, and organizations that provide volunteer-based tutoring/mentoring.  Unless we can tap the resoruces of universities, and their alumni, our efforts to help youth living in high poverty neighborhoods, stay in school and move through college to jobs and careers, will be frustrated by lack of manpower, lack of resources, and lack of knowledge.

The Tutor/Mentor Connection web site that hosts this discussion was created by the technology department of IUPUI in Indianapolis, as part of a barter of talent for knowlege with the T/MC.  It's part of an effort to engage the university and repurpose resources in an effort to help the T/MC grow in Chicago and to help a similar support system grow in Indiana cities.

We'd like to be engaged with many universities in the way described by Dr. Cherwitz in this article. After you read it, if you'd like to connect from your university, to the T/MC, please introduce yourself here, or email tutormentor2@earthlink.net .  Or, plan to attend the next Tutor/Mentor Leadership Conference in Chicago, which is how we firts became introduced to the team from IUPUI.