Carleton is pleased to announce an exciting partnership with neighboring St. Olaf College and the Northfield Downtown Development Corporation (NDDC). In conjunction with the NDDC's College-Community Collaboration Committee, plans are now in place to launch and support a multi-year, interdisciplinary series of college-community projects.  

Three dozen professors at the two colleges have already contributed their ideas to this initiative, and over sixty potential projects have been identified, organized by four broad categories: Enhancing College-Community Collaboration/Communication, Strengthening Our Sense of Place, Growing the Knowledge-Worker Economy, and Securing Resources/Building Sustainability.

Earlier this month, Carleton, St. Olaf, and the NDDC began working on their first collaborative project: a computer modeling of the Cannon River. The Cannon River Modeling Project—led by St. Olaf professors Matt Richey and Paul Roback and their students—will provide further exploration of work previously begun by Carleton alumnus Ana Vang (Class of 2011). The project focuses on researching and reviewing existing river models to study key issues impacting the Cannon River, as identified by Vang. These models include built environment, bank stability, channel changes, flood potential, sediment toxicity, sediment transport, riparian response, existing wildlife, and invasive species. 

Carleton College, St. Olaf College, and the NDDC are committed to collaborating in ways that best support both college and Northfield community members. Along with St. Olaf President Anderson, Carleton President Poskanzer recognizes the important relationship between the colleges and the community, noting, “We understand and value how the colleges’ and the town’s futures are always linked.”