A report published this week by UCLA calls for research universities to embrace community engagement and outlines steps they can take to make that happen.

 

The report, titled "New Times Demand New Scholarship II: Research Universities and Civic Engagement — Opportunities and Challenges," outlines recommendations developed at a national meeting of research universities co-convened by the UCLA Center for Community Partnerships and Campus Compact, a coalition of more than 1,100 college and university presidents. The report recommends engaging students in research that addresses community needs, developing courses that enable students to link their academic studies to service, and convening faculty seminars on civic engagement.

 

UCLA's Center for Community Partnerships, under the direction of Associate Vice Chancellor Franklin D. Gilliam Jr., is leading UCLA's civic engagement efforts. The center supports faculty, student and staff collaborations with nonprofit organizations to address mutual concerns and improve the quality of life for Los Angeles-area residents.

 

UCLA Chancellor Gene Block has identified community engagement as a university priority.

 

"Today, more than ever, the public research university should engage in mutually beneficial partnerships with its greater community," Block said in the report. "When we extend the reach of our scholarship beyond our own campus, students and faculty practice what they learn and teach and discover real-world engagement."

 

The report, written by Timothy K. Stanton of Stanford University, can be found at: www.compact.org/initiatives/research_universities/Civic_Engagement.pdf (PDF, 3.8MB).