The Anthropology Department at Western Michigan University has sponsored an annual archaeological field school since the mid-1970s. Over the past decade, students have worked with community and government organizations, learning to apply archaeological methods to real world problems to preserve and interpret significant heritage sites. They come to see historical knowledge as subject to political controversy--a valuable civics lesson that emerges from the realization that the community consists of multiple audiences with different visions and interpretations of history. Engaged archaeology promotes civic involvement and moves beyond the rhetoric of serving the public good that characterizes conventional archaeological training and scholarship. Examples of collaborative research drawn from partnerships with several public and private agencies illustrate the benefits of this approach for learning and service.