University and college mental health services have historically modeled themselves after a traditional clinic model. Few delivery systems have been influenced by the community mental health model. The major reason for this lack of influence appears to be the "in loco parentis" stance of colleges and universities. A campus mental health service stemming from a community model would have as its cornerstones community participation and the development, delivery, and evaluation of services, intervention at both community and individual levels and focus upon preventive intervention strategies. Fundamental questions that must be raised when adopting the community model are: what is the counseling services or mental health services role in relation to other systems operating on campus and its role in relation to its largest constituency--students. The paper discusses these last questions in some depth. (Author)