About the Center for Rural Studies

207 Morrill Hall
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT 05405
(802) 656-3021
crs@uvm.edu

Research Areas

The Center for Rural Studies (CRS) is a nonprofit, fee-for-service research organization that addresses social, economic, and resource-based problems of rural people and communities. Based in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Vermont (UVM), the Center provides consulting and research services in Vermont, the United States, and abroad. The research areas are divided into five main areas:

1. Agriculture
2. Human Services and Education
3. Program Evaluation
4. Rural Community and Economic Development
5. Vermont Community Data

Mission Statement

The mission of the Center for Rural Studies is to promote the dissemination of information through teaching, consulting, research, and community outreach.  Primary emphasis is placed upon activities that contribute to the search for solutions and alternatives to rural problems and related issues.  Bringing over two decades of experience to its work, the Center recognizes that answers to critical and timely questions often lie within a community or organization.  In approaching rural problems, the following considerations are integrated in our work.

• Commitment to working with the full range of human and natural resources already existing within a region or area.
• Encouragement of community member participation representing community interests throughout the entire process.
• Creation of planning framework compatible with indigenous ecological and natural resource constraints.
• Promotion of locally owned businesses and local assets.
• Commitment to creation of high quality jobs and local employment opportunities.

CRS focuses on three different levels of activities:

1. Long term grant and contract projects (one to five years)
2. Short term fee-for-service projects (one week to several months)
3. Daily data requests for information and publications.

Services

The Center for Rural Studies provides a broad range of research and consulting services regarding rural issues.  The following services reflect specific CRS capabilities:

SURVEY CENTER - CRS houses a survey center for conducting phone, mail, newspaper, online, and on-site surveys, polls, and needs assessments.   Services include data entry, survey administration, data analysis, and presentation of results.

STATE DATA CENTER & SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH CENTER - As a U.S. Census Bureau State Data Center, CRS answers private and public inquiries for Census data, as well as, Vermont state data.  Additionally, CRS serves the University of Vermont research community as the Social Science Research Center, a joint project with the College of Arts and Sciences and the University Computer Services.  CRS acts as the Official Representative to the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), which provides world-wide data bases for social science researchers, instructors, and students.

DATA BASE SYSTEMS - CRS maintains and utilizes over 600 socio-economic and demographic measures for Vermont's 296+ towns, cities, villages, and other communities from 1960 (or earlier) to present. The "flagship" application of this work is Vermont Indicators Online.

VALUE-ADDED DATA SERVICES - CRS provides data services to existing data base and survey information in the form of research, data analysis, data formatting, and information management.

LEADERSHIP & PUBLIC PARTICIPATION TRAINING - As a way to provide local officials and leaders with skills to improve community planning efforts and local research, CRS offers leadership, public participation, and a range of research skills training.  Specific training components include:  leadership development; issues analysis and problems solving; group process skills; performing community needs assessments and community profiles.

COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLANNING - CRS assists communities to solve community planning and economic development problems.   Using secondary data and projection techniques, CRS provides community profiles and related recommendations for local and regional planning contexts.

PROGRAM EVALUATION & PUBLIC POLICY EVALUATION - CRS provides program evaluation services for youth, family and social service non-profit organizations throughout Vermont.  Program evaluation areas include:  microbusiness development, domestic violence, education and literacy, and restorative justice for youth. CRS also performs public policy evaluation, including analysis of program and client data, review of program or policy process, and related recommendations for policy or program planning considerations.

SPATIAL DATA DISPLAY - CRS employs Geographic Information System technology to supply thematic and locational mapping services.  Data products are available in color or black and white.

Clients and Colleagues

CRS has a wide variety of clients:  small businesses, academics, UVM Extension and other UVM offices, community organizers, health and social service organizations, planners, town governments, and state and federal agencies.  Present day projects at CRS focus on dissemination of Census Bureau and Department of Commerce information, inter-censal population estimates, rural transportation issues, and child poverty.  These activies involve the CRS (through research contract, fee-for-service and/or collegial relationships) in weekly contact with the Vermont Agencies of Human Services and Commerce & Community Development, as well as, the Vermont Departments of Agriculture, Housing, and Health.

CRS works routinely with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau through the State Data Center Program.  In addition, our campus location has facilitated our role as the state's liaison to the University of Michigan, Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research.  Each of these contacts affords the CRS access to data and other information repositories at each of these organizations.

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The Center for Rural Studies is fully supported by fees for our services, grants, and generous contributions. Please send your contribution to: Center for Rural Studies, 207 Morrill Hall, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405.

Please feel free to sign up on our Email Contact List for updates on Center activities and notifications for new issues of our Rural Developments newsletter.

Thank you.

Comments to: crs@uvm.edu
Reviewed on 05.30.08