Center for Urban and Public Affairs

Wright State University’s Center for Urban and Public Affairs (CUPA) is an applied research center focused on urban, suburban and rural issues – including workforce and economic development, education, community development, housing, and health – earning a state and regional reputation for excellence.

Established in 1986, CUPA’s long-term (almost 25 year) commitment demonstrates its ability to deliver quality, consistent work. Knowledge of Ohio and Ohio regions, and their social and economic dynamics, contributes to the Center’s ability to carry out its mission.

Our mission is to provide data and information to government, nonprofit and community-based organizations ultimately to improve the quality of public systems and services. Faculty, professional staff, graduate and undergraduate students form teams to accomplish this research mission. Our professional staff members include planners, survey experts, statisticians, GIS analysts, and database specialists. Our technological resources include ArcGIS, Computer Aided Telephone Interviewing, web-based programming, and statistical analysis capabilities.

Select a link on this page to learn more about why more communities are making the Center for Urban and Public Affairs their choice for research expertise.

CUPA Conducts 23rd Dayton Public Opinion Survey

On Wednesday, July 21st, T. David Jones presented the results of the 2010 Dayton Public Opinion Survey to the Dayton City Commission and key City staff. This was the 7th iteration of the survey conducted by CUPA, who has partnered with the City on this assessment since 1997. A copy of the final survey report, which includes all findings from the 2010 assessment, can be found on the City of Dayton’s webpage.

Dockery Leads Shared Services Project

In 2010, Jane Dockery served as the principal investigator on projects funded by the Gates Foundation; the Robert Wood Johnson (RWJ) Foundation and the Ohio Public Health Partnership; the Morgan Family Foundation/YSI Foundation/KnowledgeWorks Foundation; the Ohio Board of Regents; and others. She provided public testimony to the Ohio Commission on Local Government Reform and Collaboration and was a featured guest on WYSO to discuss her research on shared service delivery in the education sector.

Shared-service arrangements involve the aggregated provision of services between multiple entities such as among school districts or from school district to higher education or to local governments. “They generate benefits through using a single group to provide a service to multiple agencies or units, rather than requiring each agency to provide the service on its own (Gartner, 2004).”

Sharing services in school districts may mean districts can band together to share everything from transportation services to building gymnasiums, creating the purchasing power and economies of scale of medium-sized districts (Deloitte Research and the Reason Foundation, 2005).”

More information about the shared services project can be found on the Shared Service Delivery webpage, or contact Jane Dockery at (937) 775-2382.

CUPA Partners with Local Health Departments to Conduct Community Health Assessments

CUPA is currently partnering with numerous Ohio local health districts to conduct community health assessments. These health assessments, which generally consist of adult and youth surveys and strategic planning, are requirements for local health departments to receive accreditation, and are useful in County health planning. Community health assessments are currently underway in Williams, Hocking, Pickaway, and Preble Counties, with upcoming assessments scheduled in Warren, Darke, and Miami Counties. For information about these assessments, please contact T. David Jones at (937) 775-2138.