Promoting Academic
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Promoting Academic Collaboration

The Public Goods Council (PGC) of the University of Michigan was created by Provost Nancy Cantor in the fall of 1998. Its organizational membership includes academic units dedicated to the advancement of scholarship and culture that are not affiliated with a school or college.

The purpose of this unique initiative is to utilize more effectively the extensive resources, programs and leadership qualities of the Public Goods Council, and to promote collaboration among PGC members and other University entities in ways that enrich the educational and cultural experience on campus and in the community.

The Public Goods Council is also a national model that can serve as a guide for other colleges and universities seeking to broaden the reach of thought, expression, ideas and the arts. By maximizing and combining existing resources, the PGC has the potential to become a dynamic force in American education.

Collectively, the members of the Public Goods Council encompass a rich body of public cultural resources, or "Goods," including art, music, book and plant collections, historical archives, scholarly resources, performance programs, coursework and experiential learning.

Many "Goods" represent holdings that have been accumulated over decades. The Bentley Historical Library, the Clements Library, and the University Library collect, process, preserve, and provide access to the University's vast collections and archives of printed books, manuscripts, maps, digital resources and other scholarly materials. The Media Union brings together information resources and information technology, production studios, and talented information professionals from across campus units to serve the University community. Nichols Arboretum represents a 123-acre historic landscape composed of horticultural plant collections and remnant natural ecosystems.

Other "Goods" serve as cultural resources, The collections of the University of Michigan Museum of Art include nearly 14,000 objects from the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. The University Musical Society presents nearly go performances of music, dance and theater and 200 educational events each year. Arts at Michigan works on campus to connect undergraduates with arts opportunities and to instill lifelong appreciation for the arts.

The Public Goods Council, through its collaborative efforts, brings these "Goods" together in synergistic ways to benefit the "Public," which encompasses many constituencies. It includes students, faculty and staff at the University. It also extends to public-school students and their teachers, residents of Ann Arbor and the State of Michigan, arts and cultural organizations, public-service units, and countless other community groups.

Since its formation, the Public Goods Council has accomplished a great deal. Performances by world-class performing artists inside the Museum of Art and in Nichols Arboretum, for example, have blended the performing arts with the visual arts on one hand and with ecological appreciation on the other.

New opportunities continue to arise. With strong support and sustained effort, the Public Goods Council will be able to expand its work, building bridges of learning and cultural appreciation between academia and the community.

Last updated: March 6, 2006
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