Altheimer Public Service Program

1. Altheimer Public Service Program William H. Bowen School of Law

2. Concept • service – learning program of two schools • UALR Bowen School of Law • University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service • only master’s degree program in public service • concurrent J.D./M.P.S. degree program • partnership of public and private entities • Projects undertaken by students from both schools • Funded by Ben J. Altheimer Charitable Foundation • Collaborative efforts with non-profit organizations or community agencies • program focuses on public service generally rather than specifically on pro bono legal services

3. Topics • Creation and Formation • Implementation • Benefits to the Community and to Students • Challenges for the Future

4. Purposes of The Program • recognize the two schools’ common goal of public service • stimulate the commitment to public service among the schools’ students • contribute to the immediate needs of the community and the State

5. Creation of Program • Memorandum of Understanding • written “charter” for the program • establishes operating structure for the program • defines program objectives and responsibilities • institutionalizes the program beyond the original “good idea”

6. Operating Structure For The Program • Coordinating Committee • 2 law school students • 2 Clinton School students • 1 faculty member from each school

7. Responsibilities of the Coordinating Committee Recommend Annually to Deans of the Two Schools: • joint service-learning project(s) • plan to implement the project(s) • keynote speaker(s) • budget

8. Inaugural Project: Partnership with Southside Main Street Project • local non-profit working to revitalize economically depressed part of downtown Little Rock, Arkansas • pilot program of Main Street Arkansas; follows the four principles of Main Street Model developed by the National Trust Main Street Center • design • organization • promotion • economic restructuring • “in our own backyard”: investment in the neighborhood surrounding the two schools • generates interaction between the students and the residents of the community where the schools are located

9. Two Projects With Southside Main • survey of area residents and business owners for market analysis • case study to help Southside Main develop a long-term strategic plan

10. Market Analysis • Southside Main needs targeted business recruitment package to use in encouraging new businesses to locate in the area • students refined model survey in conjunction with UALR Statistics Department • students canvass the neighborhood • survey collects market data about current shopping and spending habits, new businesses and services desired in the area, income levels, etc. • goal is to obtain enough completed surveys to attain statistical reliability • survey responses will be compiled and analyzed by Statistics Department • survey responses will be used to identify business and real estate development opportunities that Southside Main can include in a business recruitment package

11. Case Study Three Topics: • Collecting information on existing neighborhood associations and facilitating better working relationships among those groups • Researching zoning regulations and developing user- friendly guide for potential property and business owners • MacArthur Park Historic District • Capital Zoning District • Researching current structure and role of the Business Improvement District that exists in the area

12. Benefits to the Community • projects provide some type of tangible service • market analysis • recommending ways that non-profits can work together better • interaction between area residents and local institutions of higher education • public events • keynote speaker who addresses issues related to the project • public program for stakeholders in the project at which students present research results, policy proposals, or recommendations • research into pressing community issues • lasting record of the work • at conclusion of project, Coordinating Committee must draft report chronicling the history and results of the project • reports will be electronically archived in the Clinton School’s Research Center and will be available to the public for later use

13. Benefits to Participating Students • experiencing and learning the value of service in a real-world setting • leadership opportunities in a service context • students have primary responsibility for selecting service projects • students “co-lead” each project • opportunity to work with and learn from community leaders, leaders of non-profits, and various other professionals engaged in public service • breaks down class barriers that sometimes exist between lawyers and rest of community; puts students in contact with people in a real way at street level • learning to practice in context and think more broadly about a problem, rather than focusing on just the narrow, immediate issue at hand

14. Specific Benefits of Cross-Disciplinary Projects • expanding the range of potential projects • opportunity for law students to work with non-lawyer professional students to see and experience how important law is to social change • expanding focus of law students beyond the technical skills of the craft and helping them see how public service is part of their professional role • learning to collaborate and work in groups with non-lawyer professionals • opportunity for law students to see the variety of ways that transactional lawyers can contribute to pro bono and public service efforts

15. Challenges For The Future • student participation • awarding academic credit? • incorporating program into the curriculum? • project selection • finding “common ground”: projects that enrich both the legal education of Bowen students and the public-service education of Clinton School students • long-term project v. new project each year • continued funding • original grant is for 3 years