Campus and Community Context for Engagement
Why This Matters
Effective community engagement must be grounded in a clear understanding of an institution’s mission, history, and values. It also depends on understanding the social, economic, cultural, and geographic contexts of the communities the institution serves. Without this grounding, engagement can become disconnected from institutional purpose and community priorities.
Clarifying who the institution is, where it is situated, and how it understands community engagement creates a foundation for intentional and accountable practice. Attention to context helps institutions recognize barriers to participation. It also supports alignment of infrastructure and resources and enables thoughtful responses to external events.
Standards for Practice
- Clear Description of Institution and Community
- Document mission, history, demographics, and community context.
- Ensure documentation of community demographics or geographics information for prioritized communities.
- Institutional Definition of Community Engagement
- Use the institutional definition of community engagement consistently across units and departments.
- Assuring Opportunities and Access
- Find opportunities to enhance community engagement efforts across all stakeholder groups.
- Reduce barriers and increase opportunities for community participation within programs, policies, and practices.
- Coordinating Infrastructure
- Ensure clear structures to support community engagement, including staffing, volunteers, resources, support, and funding.
- Budget and Fundraising
- Allocate permanent funding and pursue external grants to support community engagement
- Track and report on budget allocations, external funding, and fundraising efforts related to community engagement.
- Establish clear guidance for securing funding and resources to support community engagement.
- Impact of External Events
- Document adjustments and adaptations of community engagement strategies in response to contextual factors and events.
- Track and Assessment
- Collect, use, and report engagement data using the Engaged KU Community Check Box at the institutional and unit level.
Resources for Implementing the Standards
- Institutional Definition of Community Engagement
- Host an Engaged KU Roundtable to discuss and set community engagement goals with and across your unit.
- Refer to the Carnegie Community Engagement Framework Guidance Document
- Review and establish policies, practices, and programs that recognize, promote, and award community engagement
- KU Community Engagement Networks, Groups, and Coalitions - Connect with community engagement networks, groups, and coalitions supported between campus and community partners.
- Center for Service Learning - Hub for service-learning courses, volunteer opportunities, and the Certificate in Service-Learning program for students and faculty.
- Center for Teaching Excellence - Learn how to integrate community engagement activities into your courses, office activities, research, and student projects.
- Use the Engaged KU Community Check Box strategic dashboard to link unit activities to Jayhawks Rising priorities.
Resources from the Community Tool Box
Explore these resources from the Community Tool Box
Sections
- Chapter 3, Section 2: Understanding and Describing the Community Select to follow link
- Chapter 46, Section 5: Marketing the Initiative to Secure Financial Support Select to follow link
- Chapter 46, Section 6: Sharing Positions and Other Resources Select to follow link
- Chapter 46, Section 7: Becoming a Line Item in an Existing Budget Select to follow link