Clearfield University a Success

Thursday, 26 July 2012

Sixteen Clearfield residents are the proud first graduating class of Clearfield City’s nine-week Clearfield University program. From a high school student to at-home moms to business owners to retirees – all went away from the graduation ceremony feeling an increased sense of pride in their community. “It proved to be a very successful program,” said JJ Allen, Clearfield’s Assistant City Manager and one of the organizers of Clearfield University. “We were able to engage people who hadn’t been engaged with the city before. They went away as ambassadors for our city with their family and friends.” The nine-week course included interactive presentations by each of the city’s department directors, as well as tours of city facilities and field trips to businesses at Freeport Center, and Clearfield Job Corps. Each week Clearfield restaurants and businesses donated prizes and snacks for Clearfield University participants. “We are appreciative of the great support we received from the Clearfield business community,”said Allen. “Business owners got a chance to promote their business to attendees, and attendees enjoyed winning gift certificates and sampling a variety of snacks each week.” Topics covered included city finances, economic development, public safety, community services and parks, public works and more. Attendees went away each week with a homework assignment, such as finding a certain piece of information on the city website, drawing city boundaries, or finding the most number of tree species at Fox Hollow Park and Arboretum. For the last class session participants were able to role play as a ‘real’ City Council. Participants were asked to give their feedback each week on the class and at the end of the nine weeks. Comments shared were: “My favorite session was where we acted as the City Council – looks really tough; a big eye opener.” “I’m newer to Clearfield and haven’t heard great things about it, and now I am educated to correct people.” “I really got the opportunity to learn what it takes to run a city as Clearfield.” All said they would recommend Clearfield University to others. Mark Shepherd, Clearfield City Councilmember, also helped organize Clearfield University. “I am confident that as we incorporate the feedback and make minor adjustments to classes, round two will be even better!” And, here’s your chance – the second Clearfield University session will be held Thursdays beginning September 20, 6:30pm- 8:30pm, Clearfield City municipal building, 55 S. State Street. There is a $20 refundable registration fee. To register, please contact the Clearfield City Executive Department at (801) 525- 2707 by August 31.

Last Updated ( Friday, 31 August 2012 )

 

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