One of the most strategic actions West Virginia could take is to develop stronger regional partnerships between the 20+ colleges and universities in the state and their surrounding communities. A healthy four-year institution can be a hub of every pillar of new economy success: diversity, technology, quality of place (cultural and otherwise) and talent/education.

Many large, elite universities around the country have become extremely proactive in embracing the role they play in growing a vibrant regional economy and community. Much of these efforts were based more on enlightened survival needs vs. charity. They had no choice; universities were having a difficult time recruiting students to go to school in the blighted communities in which the school resided.

The University of Pennsylvania, for example, instituted a low-interest loan program to assist faculty in purchasing older homes and renovating them. They even went so far as to partner with the City of Philadelphia to build a completely new public school to attract new residents to the West Philadelphia community around Penn. The president of Penn at the time of the revival was hailed as a savior for that area of the city, and even wrote a book about the experience.

We see some schools in the state branching out of the traditional “town vs. gown” walled existence to spark promising new initiatives. Glenville State College has partnered with local developers to build much-needed new housing. West Virginia University has received kudos by the City of Morgantown for their improved openness and willingness to jointly plan for growth with the community.

Buck Smith was recently named president of Davis & Elkins College, a small, private liberal arts school with a rich history. Recently, however, enrollment has dropped and the school is down to 640 students and 45 faculty.

He said his #1 goal is to see students and faculty become involved in community-service projects, thereby making the region a better place. Longer term, his plans include doubling the enrollment of full-time students by 2013 and increasing the number of international students. “The first thing we’ll probably do is make this a wireless campus with expanded broadband access,” says Smith.

Smith’s philosophy is encouraging for anyone in West Virginia who wants to see change. “I have followed a simple little rule – it really isn’t our resources that limit our decision, it’s our decision that limit our resources.”

We wish President Smith and the Elkins/D&E community great success and look forward to sharing their successful partnership efforts towards building a creative community prepped to thrive in the new economy.