Burruss Institute Mission

Our mission is to enhance the ability of governmental agencies and non-profit organizations to make informed decisions for the public good by providing relevant data, technical resources and skill development.

A.L. Burruss (1927 - 1986)

A.L. Burruss served his community through elected public office and business in addition to personal commitments. During his 22-year career in public service in Georgia, he gave special attention to the communities of Northwest Georgia. A.L. Burruss' career in the Georgia General Assembly was devoted to providing a better standard of living for all Georgia citizens. His dedication to the state of Georgia and its citizens is now carried on through the A.L. Burruss Institute of Public Service and Research at ÁñÁ«»ÆÊÓƵ.

A.L. Burruss (1927 - 1986)

 

History of the Burruss Institute

two ksu burruss institute staff ladies laughing at podium

In July 1988, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, created the A.L. Burruss Institute of Public Service and Research. To achieve the University President's goal of "commitment to community," the Institute embarked on an ambitious plan to reach city, county, regional, state, and federal agencies and elected officials, as well as non-profit and community service organizations, by providing technical assistance and applied research services in a diversity of areas ranging from gerontology to lake management studies within North Atlanta and Northwest Georgia.

The structure of the Institute is flexible, making it especially sensitive and responsive to the needs of its clients. The A.L. Burruss Institute of Public Service and Research draws upon the expertise of the academic departments of ÁñÁ«»ÆÊÓƵ by providing opportunities for many faculty, from diverse research fields, to participate in applied research projects on an as-needed basis. Similarly, ÁñÁ«»ÆÊÓƵ students, serving as student assistants, interns, co-ops and as interviewers in the Telephone Survey Research Laboratory, have contributed experience in day-to-day operations at the Institute or at government agencies and community organizations.

The Institute's staff also has extensive community involvement of its own, taking part in many voluntary programs of government agencies, the juvenile court system, chambers of commerce and civic organizations, often speaking to these groups, advising them and sharing in their enterprises.

The Institute has partnered with a number of prominent organizations, including the Army Corps of Engineers, the Lake Allatoona Watershed Study and the Nature Conservancy, and it has collaborated on joint projects with other universities, including Emory University and the University of Georgia. The Institute also assists many local, state, and national government agencies, such as the Department of Justice, the Governor's Office of Highway Safety and other law enforcement departments.