Part of the "SOUL CITY CONNECTORS" initiative
Strengthen and establish deeper relationships between Augusta University, its students, citizens, businesses, and community organizations throughout the urban core. The recommendation focuses on intangible but visible daily connections through a Jag Card merchant program, a Jaguar Journey public art and school-spirit installation, and Augusta in Action service-learning/applied-research partnerships that connect university resources with neighborhood needs
Tracks partnership with a local charity for the Jaguar Journey program.
Tracks establishment of the Jag Card merchant purchase program in the urban core.
Tracks the ability of Jaguar Journey to fund small projects in urban core neighborhoods.
Tracks creation of a committee of community stakeholders and faculty engaged in service learning.
Tracks deeper relationships between Augusta University, students, citizens, businesses, and community organizations in the urban core.
Tracks creation of a mechanism to bring students downtown to shop, dine, and be entertained.
Tracks creation of mentorships with Jaguar Basketball players through the Life League model example.
Tracks lasting relationships between faculty, students, and community organizations.
Tracks AU departments pulled into student neighborhood opportunity awareness.
Tracks low- to no-cost stakeholder engagement and project champion model.
Tracks community empowerment from valid programming rooted in real community needs.
Tracks participation of urban core merchants in the Jag Swag program.
Tracks sales increase benchmark from the University of Georgia Bulldogs Bucks program.
Tracks weaving Augusta University into the daily life of the district through programmatic and physical connections.
Tracks total merchant enrollment cost estimated for Jag Swag.
Tracks potential student spending at urban core merchants through the Jag Card.
Tracks merchant reimbursement process through Augusta University.
Tracks creation of a Jaguar Journey public art / school-spirit installation.
Tracks organizations named in the Life League partnership example.
Tracks potential funding, resources, and partnership sources listed in the report.
Tracks fundraising benchmark from Bulldogs on Broad.
Tracks curriculum and technical expertise provided by AU’s College of Education Center for Innovation and Community Engagement to Westobou Montessori School.
Tracks creation of a single point of contact between Augusta University and urban core residents, businesses, and leaders.
Tracks incremental community changes becoming more sustainable and long-lasting.
Tracks social media check-in tracking if each Jaguar becomes a check-in spot.
Tracks the Westobou Montessori School partnership model for future efforts with other AU colleges.
Tracks Augusta in Action service learning and applied research projects in urban core neighborhoods.
Tracks branding of the district through school-spirit public art.
Most interventions are low- to no-cost and leverage stakeholder engagement and project champions. Jag Swag costs are estimated using the Bulldogs Bucks model and would require total merchant enrollment of approximately $500; participating merchants would be reimbursed monthly or weekly by the University. Jaguar Journey could raise funds for private start-up and seed money for ongoing initiatives.