Imagine Greater Tucson 2010-11 Phase I
Community Conversation and Survey Statements Related to

The University of Arizona for the quality of education it provides
 
1A community of intelligent, inquisitive, active and engaged people; enhanced opportunities to attend lectures and performances in a variety of artistic fields
2ALtho Tucson has nearly 1 million residents, it still feels like a small town. The proximity of the UofA is critical, ensuring intelligent and robust community.
3Access to a world class research institution, and all of the rich educational opportunities it provides is priceless. The idea that the best astronomical telescopes in the world are made at 6th street & Cherry while Nasa probes to Mars are controlled from 6th avenue and Drachman makes me just gush with pride for my community.
4As an educated individual, my social and personal interests include theater, opera, music and lectures. All available thanks to the university.
5Attract and recruit retired science professionals as a local problem solving resource
6Brings diversity and intelligence to the community (i.e., research)
7Brings programs to the area and helps develop the business community A research hospital.
8Communities that have major universities embedded in them provide an attraction to scholars and thinkers as well as to youth. These two populations attract higher quality and more diversity in cultural events, restaurants, stores and a sense of vitality that is lacking in communities whose economies are largely based upon industry, tourism or retail malls.
9Cosmic Origins Lecture Series; other science lectures series
10Cultural and artistic endevors such as concerts, plays, scientific presentations at the U of A, historical and art museums easily accessible. 4th Avenue activities and open air markets, etc.
11Culture, choice, focus on education, creative thinkers, variety - all the fringe benefits of living near a major state University.
12Economic impact equals jobs, research, companies at a higher level
13Education and research make a quality University and increase jobs in the region
14Enjoying being outside in our backyard and neighborhood in midtown (Broadway & Country Club area), reading, gardening, walking, bike riding; easy access to downtown and at the UA at various cultural events and institutions (TMA, UA museums, Centennial Hall, UA lectures, public libraries).
15Enormous cultural, arts, science, knowledge driver & economic engine & power center of learning
16Excellent school, lots of research areas of interest and good public education campaigns
17Free lectures, good museums.
18I am an academic and the UA provides an optimal environment to perform my work (research) and teach.
19I did grad school at UA and I really like still being connected to them through my work and on committees. I think the UofA is really involved in this community in so many ways. A university also draws creative thinkers, good entertainment, and enables us to have events like the Festival of Books.
20I don't have children, but I've been involved with Tucson high school science teachers at U of A and my impression is that schools are not up to par.
21I go here, great school, brings intelligent people to the community (and makes us look good)
22I got a scholarship to the UA, got my Degree, had a job at IBM while going to school, got a job after graduation at raytheon. My life completely turned around here.
23I have a Ph.D. but my job prospects here are fairly limited with only one major university. I've been creative and lucky with my employment options. With a poor economy I'm always a bit concerned about my future prospects.
24I have a small marketing company and UMC is one of my large clients. Being involved with them for the past 5 years has opened my eyes to all the incredible docs and research that we have in our own backyard. I know that some folks think of UA as a small school in a small town with a great basketball program...we are so much more and are growing in every direction so rapidly.
25I hope for a continued excellent rapport with the University of Arizona, and with scientists, such as astronomers to Kitt Peak, who seek out the ideal features of the area.
26I like having a place where there is research going on a place to go to learn new information. The University increases the progress of the whole community.
27I like living in university towns. I like the intellectual and cultural things that universities provide -- unusual film series, music events, seminars and talks -- and the people who then take advantage of those. And the type of community created by the people who are attracted to universities. I have two science graduate degrees from the UA and I now work at UA, so it's a big part of my life in Tucson. I think that having the university here enriches the cultural and intellectual aspects of Tucson.
28I like living somewhere where English isn't the only language spoken, where there are Mexican and Native American cultures with deep roots and traditions in the region, and where the UA attracts scholars and talent from all over the world. (And if I could pick a #4, it would be the UA!)
29I like the fact that people in Tucson are very creative and business oriented. I love that the University of Arizona is here - I would REALLY love to see the UofA get more involved with the small businesses SPECIFICALLY here in Tucson and do more to promote those businesses here than importing larger businesses from elsewhere. But on the same note, I am not against businesses moving here, as a matter of fact I would love to see more businesses move here and have specific areas or locations that those businesses could move to - kind of like San Diego..
30I like the intellectual aspect of the university, particularly the emphasis on the sciences and discoveries that can support economic development and improvement of the human condition. I like having access to live music and theater as well as enough movie theaters to provide a reasonable variety.
31I like the way citizens support each other (as for Gabby) in a crisis; the University gives prestige, lots of interesting things going on of all sorts
32I take pride in the accomplishments of the University of Arizona in astronomy, life sciences, health care and so many other areas. I am also delighted with Tucson's leadership in optics, solar power, bio-technology, etc.
33I'd work a lot harder to retain knowledge.. retain UA grads from leaving. We have one of the highest ranked business schools in the country, yet very little business development is occuring. More efforts to stimulate, and retain, young business leaders through local efforts to 'grow' businesses of the future.
34I'm devastated that this huge research institution that could do so much to enlighten our community is being financially gutted. I'd also like to see more community involvement
35I'm so happy to have such a great University and research hospital in my town
36Increase communication about why research is important to the U of A
37It brings a diverse intelligent vibrant progressive community to our tradition-rich laid-back lifestyle
38It has the many benefits of a city--research university, fine arts, convention center, museums, etc. without the big city pressure of traffic, congestions and pollution
39It is a cultural and learning center. (I just wish I could go to more public lectures on campus....but hate to have to find a place to park.) I've enjoyed many classes as an undergraduate and graduate.
40Living in a university town provides such breadth of experience, from athletics to fine arts to sciences. The university has brought me friends that include book lovers, gourmets, astronomers, solar power researchers, rare plant specialists, and anthropologists.
41One, I enjoy taking classes at Pima for my own education. Not every town has a great community college. Two, the University of Arizona is an excellent research college that brings a lot of attention to Tucson.
42Opportunities to attend lectures and be enriched by the university.
43Opportunity to take advantage of classes; attend lectures; attend student theatre, musical and dance events, athletic activities. We have many friends who are associated with the U of A.
44Opportunity to take classes, go to great lectures, see wonderful performances, and to be stimulated by academic discussions and workshops. The community benefits from the cutting edge work of the university and the fostering of educated professionals
45Our Native American and Hispanic heritage, the University of Arizona with it's heralded optical and ecological research, Davis Monthan and Fort Huachuca Military Bases offer a worldview which I've found fairly broad for a city of Tucson's size.
46Our fiber optics, medical research, and astronomy programs are outstanding. These are facets we must promote and enhance.
47Presence of University of AZ - exposure to science, astronomy, the arts, and accessibly to same
48Progressive educational institutions 1)UA 2)Civano (first green school and student-centered school in the nation featured in the Ellen show) 3) Vail academy and High School first LEED platinum K-12 science oriented school in the state
49Proximity to the university and what it offers (music, arts, cool science stuff,young people and more diversity)
50Put Tucson on the map with science... so important now
51Student influence, acceptance of diversity, brings new arts and science opportunities (talks, fairs, museums)
52The U of A has so much potential for enriching our community. I enjoy lectures, the planetarium, and other resources
53The UA offers many opportunities and programs with research and scientific discoveries and settings to blend the UA and Tucson communities in a positive way
54The UA's reputation and prominence has a profound influence on the makeup of the Tucson population. The University presence adds a great deal of interest and value to the Tucson Community.
55The University also enhances the cultural and intellectual environment of our city. We have access to events and information that other areas without major research institutes lack.
56The University of Arizona (research)
57The University of Arizona is such a high-caliber institution and truly does a great job of partnering with businesses, and allowing entrepreneurs to spin off technology ideas. Supporting this with more of a 'think tank' atmosphere to foster innovation and business/academic partnerships to help other businesses and public entities become more creative and cutting-edge will be key to future development.
58The UofA is doing a lot of important research and drawing in a lot of intelligent students to Tucson - both grad and undergrad. Those students go on to stay and be brilliant within the city itself - or go without and help build Tucson and the UofA's reputation countrywide - and the university itself offers so much to the community and Tucson culture.
59The borderlands culture, the Native American cultures, the ranching heritage, that co-exist (not always comfortably) with the creative community of the university and the arts.
60The commitment to keep Tucson environmentally clean is important to the current residents. Future residents will be attracted to that condition. The UA and associated research and clean industry will attract environmentally aware residents helping to keep Tucson clean.
61The university is only one educational opportunity in Tucson. There are many parks and hiking trails. There are non-profit opportunities that allow sharing of knowledge and there is a large community of elders with wisdom to share.
62The world class programs including the students, professors - their research and work - plus the programs offered to the general public at Centennial Hall, School of Music, Poetry Center and the bookstore as well as the athletics.
63Though I am not a big hiker, I do appreciate being able to go exploring and camping with just a short drive from my home. Astronomy is my hobby and I love Kitt peak and the science community that is built up in Tucson and the amazing scientific achievements from the University of Arizona.
64Tucson has a reputation for low pay and a lot of low-class employment opportunities. Raising the standard of this community is a multifaceted project that requires education, opportunity and investment in work that means something to the individual as well as the nation. More partnerships with the University Of Arizona and clean businesses should be formed and long-range plans for creating fertile start-up incubator parks must be laid down.
65Tucson is blessed with many creative people in the arts - music, dance, visual arts, architecture, theater and more. UAs strong colleges help support and nurture that creativity.
66Tucson is more relaxed than other communitites allowing for a friendly, unpretentious communication amongst each other. This does allow us to be on the cutting edge of research with the UofA and some of Southern Arizona's top employers.
67U of A is a center for research
68UA , Pima and all of the related scientific enterprises, research, medical care, and cultural opportunities
69UA helps bring diversity, focus on learning and knowledge increase to our community. This is important to a community's ability to develop... not that we've effectively tapped into this yet, but...
70UA is the driver of our local economy. It is the source of so many 'quality of life' elements (e.g. collegiate athletics, night life, special events) and is a constant fountain of innovation and creativity in our region.
71We graduate so many intelligent, energetic, creative people at the U of A every year...and then they move somewhere else b/c they can get paid better almost anywhere else in the country. Intelligent, energetic, creative, professional people move here every year b/c of the weather & the beauty of the area...and then they move b/c they can't support their families on what people get paid here. I own a business and have seen some of the marketing that has been done to draw business to Tucson ('Bring your business to Tucson. You don't have to pay people much here'.) That is totally self defeating. We have to build the middle class here. If we want to keep innovators here and keep moving forward, we have to pay people decently...and then that money will move throughout the Tucson economy for the benefit of all.
72We have a flagship university here with concrete professions (engineering, the sciences, etc.) but they can't find work here
73We have a major research resource in the U of A, lot's of open land and the most sunshine of any city in the country. That we don't lead the country and rightly the world in solar development is shameful.
74Whether it is athletic events, or open lectures, the University gives Tucson a Univeristy town vibe.