Coalition of Urban Serving Universities

Key Highlights

• A president‐led network of public urban research universities working to drive transformational institutional change.
• Supports a set of institutions as they plan and implement groundbreaking reforms to facilitate student success, boost degree completion, and revitalize their communities in the process.
• Helps institutions transform their communities through partnerships.

The Coalition of Urban Serving Universities (USU) is a network of public urban research universities that represents every region of the United States. University presidents created the Coalition to leverage the intellectual capital and economic power of urban universities, thereby improving urban life and America’s competitiveness in the global economy.

USU’s agenda focuses on the role of USUs as “anchor institutions” to drive workforce and career development, equitable student success, impactful campus-community partnerships, and economic and community health. USU advances this work through membership activities and grant funded initiatives. USU partners with the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) to jointly lead an urban agenda for the nation’s public universities.

USU is a 501 (c) 6 membership organization, which has established a permanent partnership with the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) to share a joint USU/APLU Office of Urban Initiatives.

Member Value

USU members have numerous opportunities to engage with the Coalition and connect with their colleagues from urban-serving campuses across the country.

Professional Networking

• Monthly meetings of USU member Presidents and Chancellors
• USU Summer Meeting
• Dedicated USU content at the APLU Annual Meeting
• Monthly member newsletter
• Webinar series

Technical Assistance and Resources

• Access to specialized training opportunities such as the Urban Adult Learner Institute (UALI) and The Student Experience Project Institute
• Publications and toolkits from USU grant-funded initiatives
• Opportunities for participation in national initiatives through USU as an intermediary

Thought Leadership for the Urban-Serving Sector

• Advocacy of the sector in scholarship, policy, and best practice environments
• Promotion of member institutions’ news and successes
• Amplified impact through APLU partnership

Connect With Us

Contact: info@usucoalition.org

Social Media: Twitter/X (@USUCoalition) & LinkedIn (The Coalition of Urban Serving Universities)

USU Staff

Jennifer Keup, Ph.D.

Vice President, Urban Initiatives & Executive Director, Coalition of Urban Serving Universities (USU)

Biography

Samantha Levine

Director, Coalition of Urban Serving Universities (USU)

Biography

Jimmy McClellan

Director, Coalition of Urban Serving Universities (USU)

Biography

Alex Blumenthal

Associate, Coalition of Urban Serving Universities (USU)

Biography