Cornell University has unveiled a new scope and structure for the Community and Rural Development Institute (CaRDI), including a redefined focus for the partnership between the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), the College of Human Ecology (CHE), and Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE)

“I’m delighted that this reorganization will strengthen CaRDI and enhance opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration across colleges throughout the university,” said Susan A. Henry, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

“We’re proud to be a part of CaRDI’s work to serve and develop communities across New York, and excited by Cornell’s commitment to strengthen this important partnership,” said Lisa Staiano-Coico, the Rebecca Q. and James C. Morgan Dean of the College of Human Ecology.

“The rejuvenation of CaRDI is exciting for Cornell and for all New York communities. CCE is proud to be a partner in this endeavor,” said Helene R. Dillard, director of Cornell Cooperative Extension and an associate dean in CALS and CHE.

“By bringing together and restructuring CaRDI and the Rural New York Initiative, the programs will be strengthened to better serve the University and New York communities in the spirit of our land-grant mission,” said Rod Howe, who will continue as CaRDI’s executive director.

As recommended by a CaRDI internal review, a newly formed steering committee made up of faculty from CALS, CHE, and other colleges will help to guide and focus CaRDI’s interdisciplinary efforts. There will be a continuation of many research and extension efforts as well as some new endeavors to be identified in conjunction with the Faculty Steering Committee.

CaRDI’s central program goal will be to integrate research, extension/outreach, and teaching. CaRDI will develop a niche in community- and economic-development research that informs program development and policy formation and will be the base for training programs. Research will lead to deliverables such as research/policy briefs, web-based community profiles, socio-economic and demographic fact sheets, and targeted impact and trend analysis reports. There are multiple bases from which to expand this research base (e.g. the Empire State Poll, existing faculty research, rural research roundtables).

CaRDI will maintain connections with CCE throughout the state by providing support to CCE county associations in the form of training and capacity building that is informed by faculty research. It is expected that, as already occurs, CaRDI will offer workshops at a variety of conferences hosted by state agencies and organizations.

While serving as executive director, Howe will continue in his role as CCE Assistant Director for Community and Economic Vitality. At CaRDI he will work with Faculty co-Directors David Brown and Max Pfeffer, both from the Department of Development Sociology. The department also provides office space for the institute.

During a transitional phase, CaRDI will be completing ongoing projects, including the Rural Vision Project (RVP). RVP identifies challenging issues and emerging opportunities facing rural New York State with a focus on state-level policies to address these issues. RVP is a collaborative endeavor, involving CaRDI, the Department of Development Sociology’s Rural New York Initiative, CCE, and the NYS Legislative Commission on Rural Resources.

Additionally, CaRDI will look to strengthen other existing partnerships like those with the New York State Association of Counties (including The Dennis A. Pelletier County Government Institute, Inc.) and the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development.

Formed in 1990, CaRDI works to strengthen Cornell University’s role as a leader in responding to current and emerging needs in community and rural development. Working with Cornell faculty and staff — including Cornell Cooperative Extension’s network of county offices—and other state and regional institutions, CaRDI is a center of dialogue and collaboration addressing needs at the local, state, and national levels.

For more information on CaRDI, visit www.cardi.cornell.edu