Louis and Hortense Rubin Community Fellows Program

Introduction
Established in June 1990 with a gift from the Louis Rubin Family to The Sage Colleges, the Louis and Hortense Rubin Community Fellows Program is a cooperative venture among the faculties of The Sage Colleges, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Hudson Valley Community College, the Emma Willard School, and participating agencies of Rensselaer County. The program is administered by The Sage Colleges.

Objectives of the Program
The program supports Fellowships, full or part-time, for faculty of these institutions in one or several agencies, both public and private in Rensselaer County. The program seeks to provide opportunities for professional development for faculty through release time from their usual teaching duties. By bringing the expertise of teaching professionals to the service of the citizens and agencies of Rensselaer County, the Rubin Community Fellows Program seeks to create collaboration partnerships, leading to creative solutions to economic, organizational, social and managerial problems challenging our community.

Scope of the Program
Among the agencies which are invited to participate in the community fellows program are city and county government, public or private social service agencies, public education, public health, public recreation and public and private arts and entertainment. Activities which maybe supported by the Program include assessment, evaluation, reorganization, development of programs, management, delivery of services, and human and physical resources for a specific agency or for a group of agencies, expansion of collaborative ventures among agencies, assessment of local, state and federal impact on an agency or agencies, and strategic planning. All activities should work toward strengthening the ability to effectively serve the needs of the people of Rensselaer County. Specific current and emerging needs will be identified annually at a Community Forum, held by The Sage Colleges every fall.

Characteristics of the Program
In the broadest sense, the program has the dual focus of effecting change within participating agencies, and of providing faculty an opportunity to apply their knowledge and expertise for the benefit of the community in a new exchange of ideas, as well as the assessment of needs, from both the educational institution and agency perspectives. Successful proposals will show imagination, innovation and ingenuity.