This article shares wisdom from three leaders in the Baltimore nonprofit sector on university engagement with local communities. In conversation with the directors of Towson University's Grant Writing in Valued Environments (G.I.V.E.) program, the community leaders give practical advice to be used in grant writing and community engagement efforts,…

This article highlights lessons learned from bringing together antiracist/activist faculty representing the Initiative to Eradicate Racism at Oakland University and community members from the Pontiac Collective Impact Partnership. We use Byrd and Scott's (2010) Critical Racism Pedagogy Model as a lens to understand how university/community…

Inequities continue to weaken Michigan's capacity to respond quickly and effectively to crises, both natural and human-made. Minority and low-income populations, already disadvantaged, suffer the burden of the inequitable social, environmental, and economic injustices that have culminated in previously unacknowledged levels. Since 2011, the…

The Marrakech Framework for Action (MFA) recognizes the importance of nonformal and informal learning in lifelong learning. They provide more opportunities for learners because they are more inclusive and accessible. One of the strategies is the establishment of community learning centers that provide opportunities for various kinds of learners.…

Public engagement is becoming a critical element of U.S. universities' missions. Defining public engagement has become increasingly complex, however, and navigating the significant and diverse literature on public engagement can be daunting. This essay addresses this challenge as well as two others that make public engagement difficult for those…

The "Annual Partnership Report" catalogs partnerships that Wyoming community colleges establish and maintain for each fiscal year. This partnership report fulfills statutory reporting requirement W.S. 21-18202(e)(iv), which mandates the development of annual reports to the Legislature on the outcomes of partnerships between colleges and…

New Jersey's oldest community college faced a decade-long enrollment decline, struggling to differentiate itself in a competitive regional and national higher education market. Enrollment only began to turn around after the institution adopted strategic enrollment management (SEM) planning as a central planning framework.

This article speaks to the challenge of public land-grant universities addressing public need through community--academic partnerships and presents a case study to explain and illustrate these challenges. Included in this approach is the acknowledgment that as universities strive to bring the community perspective to their knowledge production,…

A critical function of community colleges is student transfer into baccalaureate degree-granting institutions. While over 80% of community college entrants indicate a desire to transfer, few students successfully do so and achieve their goal of graduating with a bachelor's degree. In particular, transfer and completion rates for Black and Latinx…

Obtaining a degree from a community college is a strong pathway to numerous career opportunities for students from low-income backgrounds. Unfortunately, graduation rates from community colleges are often very low, so many students do not reap the benefits of a degree. With the goal of increasing graduation rates, three community colleges in…

This article discusses the preliminary results of a semester-long partnership between an undergraduate course and a local Black community to map culture and history of the neighborhood. Students of Ball State University and residents of the Whitely community in Muncie, Indiana, worked together in spring 2022 to collect data and produce maps that…

There is a disconnect in higher education between higher education professional practices and valuing the community impact of engaged scholars. In this reflective essay, the authors highlight personal experiences with the process of working toward and earning promotion and tenure in academic settings. Those personal experiences are then…

Principals of Community Schools encounter unique opportunities in this role. An effective mentor provides meaningful conversations to sustain the new leader and build capacity to develop the new mindsets and skills necessary for growth. Effective mentoring practices express positivity, operate with honesty, and inspire individuals to be excellent…

The U.S. Department of Education's Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) program awards grants to states, districts, or other organizations to help partner schools implement community schools, which seek to provide coordinated, comprehensive supports to children and their families. This snapshot charts FSCS's progress in two foundational areas:…

Many college students experience mental and behavioral health challenges that can impede them from achieving their education and career attainment goals, especially if they lack access to appropriate care and resources. Responses to the HMS survey highlight a critical need for readily accessible mental health services at community colleges. While…