2011 Annual Report
behind the SCENES
The Vinson Institute’s commitment is clear—to help governments and the individuals who serve in them build the skills, talents, and organizational capacity they need to better serve their constituents. Much of the Institute’s assistance—in the form of objective studies, meeting facilitation, program evaluation, information technology solutions, and more—takes place behind the scenes so that government officials and staff can have the tools to accomplish their most important initiatives.
In 2011, the Vinson Institute provided critical support for a number of statewide projects addressing the top priorities of Governor Nathan Deal and the General Assembly. The Institute worked with the Department of Economic Development and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce in the governor’s major economic development initiative, the Georgia Competitiveness Initiative. Institute faculty conducted surveys and led meetings in each of 12 regions throughout the state. Information collected from business owners and leaders, state and local government officials, development authorities, local chambers of commerce, and the public from around the state about how Georgia can strengthen its ability to improve economic growth and attract investment and jobs. This information contributed significantly to the governor’s long-term strategy for economic development.
State officials also tapped the Vinson Institute to help lead efforts to strengthen Georgia’s rural communities through the OneGeorgia Rural Policy Center. Working alongside the Department of Community Affairs, Institute faculty are active in developing policies that create new opportunities for success in Georgia’s rural areas. Additionally, the Institute will help deploy the resources of the University System of Georgia (USG) throughout the state by identifying and subcontracting with USG entities that can conduct research addressing rural development issues.
Governments often turn to the Vinson Institute to help them assess current programs and verify that they are accomplishing their stated goals. The Institute compiled a data-driven report for administrators of the Hall County DUI Court that analyzed the program’s success in preventing recidivism among repeat DUI offenders and provided insights to help them continue to improve the court’s interventions. Vinson Institute faculty reviewed records to determine reoffending rates among DUI Court graduates and surveyed participants to learn what they found beneficial about it. Overall, the Hall County court will be able to use the information to hone its program to target individuals most likely to complete it.
Vinson Institute human resource experts worked with the Department of Public Safety to renew promotional testing for troopers and compliance officers after a three-year hiatus brought about by budget cuts. With the growing need for new leaders at Georgia State Patrol and the Motor Carrier Compliance Division posts throughout the state, the Institute helped these agencies devise and implement a testing strategy that provided fair access to promotional opportunities for the employees and can be legally defensible for the employers. More than 500 troopers and officers had the opportunity to vie for positions with the ranks of corporal, sergeant, sergeant first class, and lieutenant.
