This paper explores community perceptions of students and faculty involved in service learning and campus outreach initiatives, examining how communities and campuses engage in service activities; how the service mission of higher education is perceived; whether service learning students help or hinder community agencies; and how partnerships between campuses and their communities can be enhanced. In the first part of the two-phase study, 65 directors of community service agencies in four towns in a rural Northwestern state were surveyed; questions covered general background information, overall perceptions of the campus, and questions related to student service providers. In the second phase, follow-up interviews were conducted with 30 agency personnel from a single community. The study found that communities generally have positive perceptions of campuses in their area; that there are challenges and benefits in working with service learning students; and that agency personnel want more coordination and communication with campus counterparts. Some concluding recommendations are offered: (1) communication lines need to be opened; (2) campuses need to open their doors to community partners; (3) campuses and communities need to jointly approach issues associated with recruitment, training, and retention of service providers; and (4) the purpose and expectations of campus-based service initiatives need to be clearly defined. (Contains approximately 35 references.) (CH)