[100] MTSU, community leaders solicit input through Community Assessment Project

MURFREESBORO — The Community Assessment Project is online and ready to take the pulse of the public in Rutherford County.

This is the citizens’ opportunity to be heard on all kinds of important issues affecting the quality of life in Rutherford County.

CAP, as it is called, is a device to gather and compile information to help guide efforts to increase community engagement.

The online survey, which is available free of charge, is ready to take anonymously at http://mtsu.edu/RuthCoCap. Completing the survey takes no more than 10 to 15 minutes. The survey will be available online until Oct. 4, 2013.

“This survey is a great opportunity for the people of Rutherford County to have their voices heard to help guide CAP’s efforts to make our community an even greater place to live and work,” said Dr. Richard G. Moffett, associate professor of psychology at MTSU.

Moffett is also associate director and senior consultant of the MTSU Center for Organizational and Human Resource Effectiveness, which is one of the key sponsors of CAP.

Other sponsors include United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties, the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, the Jennings A. Jones Foundation, the Christy-Houston Foundation, St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital (formerly Middle Tennessee Medical Center), and the cities of Murfreesboro, Eagleville and Smyrna.

Community leaders in Rutherford County formed a committee to oversee the process. The project centers around, but is not limited to, the following sectors:

• Business, employment and the economy
• Human services and nonprofit providers
• Safety and security, law enforcement
• Education
• Health care
• Local government

“We hope people will take 15 minutes to help shape the future of our community,” said Moffett. “That could be the best investment of 15 minutes anyone could make.”

A report summarizing the data analysis will be made available to the public for the use of any interested parties. The committee will announce the publication of the report once it is available and post a notice on the survey website.

For more information, contact Moffett at 615-898-2686 or rick.moffett@mtsu.edu, or contact the Center for Organizational and Human Resource Effectiveness at 615-898-5458 or cohre@mtsu.edu.