Role of an Economic Research Center in Undergraduate Teaching and the Local Economy

Through the establishment of MetroWest Economic Research Center (MERC), a small economic research center, faculty members in the Economics and Business Administration Department at Framingham State College have developed a unique program that integrates economic research, student academic and professional development, and community outreach.  In March 2005 the Massachusetts Senate Task Force cited MERC as a “leading example of economic development assistance among the state colleges” … that “ has developed and implemented an innovative model of collaborative economic research that directly benefits employers, Chambers of Commerce, nonprofit organizations, school districts, municipal governments, legislators, residents, and community groups.” 
In the presentation at the conference, we will introduce the MERC model and its components: collaborative research, innovative internships, and community outreach.  Faculty members collaborate to analyze and profile local economic areas; in doing so, faculty create comprehensive databases for substate regions in Massachusetts.  Through a two-semester-plus internship program students learn economic theories and data collection and presentation techniques required to educate local area decision makers about their economic environment.  In the process students assume increasingly important areas of responsibility and coauthor publications.  Through MERC the college and department make notable contributions to local and regional organizations. 

The MERC model of undergraduate teaching and research will prove useful to other academic institutions and local economies.