The Center for Governmental Studies (CGS) is a public service, applied research, and public policy development unit within NIU Outreach. The Center functions as a “think and do” tank, applying the intellectual resources of the university to address public issues facing communities, the region, the state, and the nation.
Founded in 1969, CGS has an interdisciplinary, full-time professional staff of more than 35 people with doctoral and masters degrees in fields such as public administration, public policy, history, business, economic development, computer science, mathematics, and statistics. We assemble interdisciplinary teams to work directly with community leaders in governmental and non-governmental organizations to deliver the following types of services:
The Center’s professional staff is dedicated to advancing the capabilities of government at all levels and helping build the civic capacity of non-governmental organizations.
Diana Robinson
Director
Center for Governmental Studies
Phone: (815)753.0955
Fax: (815)753.7278
E-mail: drobinson@niu.edu
CGS Acquires LocalGovNews
CGS has acquired LocalGovNews (LGN), a comprehensive online digest of news relevant to public sector practitioners and policy-makers and the nonprofit organizations that support them. For a free one-month trial, send an email to localgovnews@niu.edu with "trial membership" in the subject heading. For more information, contact Samantha Brunell, LGN editor at sbrunell1@niu.edu.
Alternative Service Delivery Workshop
Is your organization ready for alternative service delivery? Experts on different methods of delivery shared their experiences at a workshop at NIU-Naperville held on April 18, 2013. Participants explored whether their community is ready for alternative methods for service delivery. Download the workshop presentations here.
Midwest Leadership Institute
May 13-17 & June 26-27, 2013
The Center for Governmental Studies is proud to announce the launch of the Midwest Leadership Institute. The goal of the Midwest Leadership Institute is to provide local government professionals a deeper understanding and mastery of core leadership concepts and experiences in order to increase their skills at managing people to achieve intended outcomes. click here to learn more and register.
Fifth Annual Financial Forecast Forum Presenter Materials
CGS and ILCMA thank the more than 200 attendees of the January 25th event. To access copies of Powerpoint presentations made during the forum, click here.
CGS and NIU's College of Health and Human Sciences have partnered to evaluate a federally-funded broadband pilot demonstration project to get Illinois low income seniors and people with disabilities online. View the
six-month report here, the
12-month report here, and the final report here.
2012 Illinois Policy Survey
View previous editions HERE.
ICAHN: Collaborating for Effective Rural Health Care | Read more or download below:
Interactive (PDF) | Print (PDF)
Register
Download the CLA Brochure HERE.
CLA IL Financial Forecast Forum | 01.25.13
Register Online HERE
Series of issue papers designed to provide objective reviews of a concern before the voting public. View them here
Service Area Study
Valley West Community Hospital
NIU and DeKalb County's Prosperity (PDF)
NIU and our Region's Prosperity (PDF)
Click here to access maps that illustrate changes in Illinois' rapidly-growing Hispanic population. Maps include overall population change from 2000-2010, country of origin, Hispanic youth by age and gender.
Newly Redistricted
Illinois Legislative Maps
Click here to view.
West Whiteside County, Illinois:
Assessing Economic Opportunities
September 2011 | PDF
NIU CGS: Allan Barsema Among 10 Winners of National Purpose Prize
Learn more & view video here
Visit The Purpose Prize site here
Visit the One Body Collaborative site
Harvard's Bright Ideas program recognizes Allan Barsema's innovative NIU-Rockford-area partnership: CCI: Community Collaboration Incorporated
The Community Engagement and Service Mission of Universities
edited by
Patricia Inman & Hans G. Schuetze
Learn more here.
View the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for Boone and Winnebago Counties here
View the conference site here
Learn more about the Illinois Municipal Assistance (IMAP) program (PDF).
Also, be sure to visit IMAP's corporate sponsors:
The Economic Impact of the Critical Access Hospital Program on Illinois Communities
Executive Summary | Full Report
Elmhurst College Poverty Project
Two CGS staff members recently served on a panel at Elmhurst College to discuss poverty in the Chicago suburbs. A photo exhibit tells the ongoing story of people who struggle with poverty in DuPage County.
See it here
View the latest State of Working Illinois reports here
