ACADEMIC
type: Concept

UKY/APPAL-CENTER
type: Concept
in scheme: providers
definition: The mission of the UK Appalachian Center is to bring the multifaceted expertise related to teaching, research, and service at UK to issues, challenges and opportunities of importance in Appalachia. The Center's Vision The Appalachian Center works to help fulfill the University's commitment to improve the quality of life for the people of Appalachian Kentucky and the larger Appalachian region. Founded in 1977, the Center facilitates research, teaching,community-based civic projects, arts programming, and other initiatives that promote understanding of Appalachian society, history, and culture. The Center serves as a resource for community leaders, policy makers, educators, and citizens concerned with the social, economic, and environmental health of the region. A key part of the Center's work is gathering and mapping regional socio-cultural and economic data, including indicators of civic capacity, community development, entrepreneurship, poverty, and health. The Center provides extensive support to nonprofit and community-based organizations working on community development issues in the Appalachian region. Faculty, staff, and graduate assistants at the Center conduct research, provide technical expertise and other assistance to community partners, and publish on a variety of topics ranging from entrepreneurship to global regional studies. The Center is an active member of the campus community. The Center sponsors multidisciplinary conferences, hosts guest scholars and artists, and serves as a support center for students researching Appalachian topics. The Center helps coordinate the Appalachian Studies curriculum, which features courses taught by leading historians, sociologists, writers, political theorists, musicians, and others. The Center also serves as a national and regional source of information about Appalachia and makes this information available to the public and to the media through reports, Web-based information delivery, participation in public events,…