e-mail this page
Printer Friendly Version

Program to call on faculty expertise

The broad experience and expertise of Sacramento State’s researchers and scholars could play an even more pivotal role in public policy discussions in California through the work of the University’s Applied Research Center, says Robert Fountain, research director of the center and professor emeritus of real estate and land use affairs.

“By using a multi-disciplinary approach among our faculty, we will have the ability to do research that could have substantial impact on policy decisions throughout the state,” said Fountain, who has taught and conducted research on economic trends for more than 25 years.

The center, which is housed in the College of Continuing Education, was created last fall to provide research services to clients such as California state agencies, local governments and businesses.

Fountain and the center staff recently finished work on a soon-to-be released study for the California Business Roundtable and The Campaign for College Opportunity on educational preparedness for the workforce of tomorrow in California. And several other projects are pending.

“With our location in the state capital, we are close to so many state agencies that need solid research on which to base their decisions. We have the expertise on our faculty to provide that valuable information,” said Fountain

The center, which has a staff of researchers, offers an array of research services, Fountain said. For example, the center conducts economic impact studies to gauge the economic benefits of services or activities either locally or statewide. Housing studies can produce a market and pricing analysis. Financial evaluations can predict rates of return for businesses. The center can also use 2000 U.S. Census data to forecast demographic and economic trends.

One of the most important services the center can offer is the knowledge of the faculty, Fountain said. “Faculty are extremely busy with their teaching duties, but they have very valuable research skills. Working with the center, faculty could do research on one part of the study and would not have be responsible for the entire project,” he said.

Over time, the center could evolve to join with other CSU campuses to conduct statewide research projects. “We believe we can offer broad-based research that state agencies, local governments or businesses won’t be able to find elsewhere,” Fountain said.

For more information about the center, call Fountain at 719-2037.