IN PAPERS PRESENTED AT THE 1967 MEETING OF THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY EXTENSION ASSOCIATION, A UNIVERSITY EXTENSION DIRECTOR, ACADEMIC EXPERTS ON COMMUNITY THEORY, REGIONAL AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, AND AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, AND FEDERAL ADMINISTRATORS DISCUSS ISSUES AND IDEAS AFFECTING THE ROLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN HELPING TO IMPROVE COMMUNITIES. THE REQUISITES FOR PURPOSIVE SOCIAL CHANGE ARE EXAMINED AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF COMPLEX SOCIAL STRUCTURES AND RAPIDLY CHANGING SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND VALUES. A HIERARCHICAL GEOGRAPHIC MODEL IS SET FORTH TO ILLUSTRATE A CONCEPTION OF URBAN GROWTH AND FUNCTIONS. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IS VIEWED IN TERMS OF THE KINDS OF LEADERSHIP NEEDED TO HELP CITIZENS MEET ECONOMIC AND OTHER PROBLEMS THAT REQUIRE GROUP DECISION AND GROUP ACTION. A PROPOSED COLLEGE-PUBLIC SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM WOULD ENGAGE STUDENTS (MAINLY UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATES) IN SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS, AND PRACTICAL SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, EITHER DURING THE SCHOOL TERM OR IN VACATION PERIODS. FINALLY, TWO ASSESSMENTS OF THE OUTLOOK FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE AND PLANNING POLICY UNDER TITLE I OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1965 GIVE EVIDENCE OF BOTH SUCCESS AND FAILURE IN DEVELOPING COMPREHENSIVE, INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS FOUNDED ON THE BASIC PROCESSES OF SOCIAL CHANGE. (LY)