A New Era of Community Engagement in Higher Education

​​Town and gown. The Ivory Tower. These are just a few well-known descriptors for universities and their relationship to “the community.” And who/what is the community? Well, in the simplest of terms, the community is everyone on the outside. Hence the Ivory Tower metaphor. So what does this mean for research and community engagement in higher education?

Now, this isn’t the case across all institutions of higher education. But there is no doubt that universities and communities share complex, often challenging relationships shaped by history, geography, and mission. And while many institutions of higher education serve as cultural and intellectual anchors, the relationship between “town and gown” remains complicated. 

This is particularly telling when it comes to community-based research, where the traditional model is conducting research on communities rather than with them. This has created understandable skepticism in the community. A recent National Academies (2025) workshop on building institutional capacity for engaged research discussed this and more. The workshop brought together leaders from universities, research institutions, and community organizations to identify actionable strategies for strengthening university-community partnerships.

Through examining successful frameworks and emerging best practices identified by the National Academies (2025) workshop, we can better understand how to create meaningful and sustainable university-community collaborations that benefit all participants. Building strong community partnerships requires intentional effort and thoughtful approaches. And successful community engagement is about fundamentally rethinking how universities and faculty approach research partnerships.

What is Community Engagement in Higher Education? 

As defined by the National Academies (2025), engaged research involves “actively including community partners in shaping the research agenda from the outset” while emphasizing the co-creation of knowledge and research that drives positive social change. 

At its core, community engagement in higher education embeds community perspectives throughout the research process and encourages active collaboration between researchers and their partners (considering the community as your partners is key). This can include community members, policy makers, and practitioners. But rather than treating communities as research subjects, this approach recognizes community members as experts. These experts have valuable knowledge and insights critical to identifying research priorities and developing effective solutions, hence the partnership.

Some examples of community engagement in higher education include:

• Participatory research projects where community members help design and conduct research
• Community health initiatives and interventions developed with local input
• Environmental monitoring and assessment projects with local residents
• Infrastructure planning and development with neighborhood participation
• Educational partnerships between schools and community organizations
• Policy development and advocacy work informed by community expertise
• Economic development initiatives shaped by local stakeholders
• Public health assessment and intervention programs co-designed with communities

​​Understanding the Community Perspective

I remember growing up in The Bronx and coming across Fordham University’s campus. It looked like a castle on a hill, unattainable to the passerby due to its high fences that engulfed entire city blocks. This is how universities can feel to the outsider, to a person who may have no college education yet faces the challenges colleges and researchers are committed to solving. 

While universities and faculty face their own challenges with community engagement in higher education (e.g., tenure requirements, resource constraints, etc.; Calice et al., 2022; Watermeyer & Lewis, 2015), centering the community perspective is crucial. Communities often embrace academic engagement with understandable skepticism, shaped by historical experiences of being over-researched and under-served (National Academies, 2025). And while universities increasingly emphasize public engagement, communities often report feeling exploited rather than partnered with (National Academies, 2025; Watermeyer & Lewis, 2017). 

This disconnect may stem from tensions with priorities. Universities focus on research outputs and publications and communities look for practical applications of knowledge that directly address their needs (National Academies, 2025; Entradas et al., 2023). As one community member was quoted in the National Academies (2025) report, 

“Neighborhoods are turned off by grant awardees that are just checking boxes.” 

Communities want to see:

• Genuine commitment to addressing community-identified priorities
• Recognition of community expertise and experiences
• Fair compensation for their time and contributions
• Tangible outcomes that benefit the community

The benefits can flow both ways when community needs are met. Communities gain valuable data and pathways to change through research partnerships, while universities strengthen their institutional relevance and faculty develop more impactful research.

Related Post: Developing a Research Communication Culture in Higher Education: Practical Steps for Leaders

Building Effective Community Partnerships

The foundation of community engagement in higher education is the understanding that partnerships is more than implementing pre-designed research projects in community settings. One researcher noted:

“Often researchers come to me who are interested in partnerships, but they have an intervention already developed. And they want other people just to use it, and then they want to call that a partnership… if you are not willing to have your intervention mangled, you are not ready for partnership. Because you don’t yet value sufficiently the expertise of the people who are going to adapt and implement that.” (National Academies, 2025)

The sweet spot is right in the middle of the Power & Control spectrum below.

Successful Partnerships

The National Academies report outlined what successful community partnerships require:

• Starting with relationships, not projects. Building trust takes time and shouldn’t be rushed by grant deadlines. Spend time learning about the community’s history, existing efforts, and priorities before proposing specific research projects.
• Listening first, then design together. Give space for community partners to identify their needs and priorities rather than approaching with predetermined research questions. Co-design research approaches that integrate community expertise with academic methods.
• Ensure transparent communication and shared decision-making. Establish clear processes about how decisions will be made and create channels for open dialogue. Be explicit about constraints, limitations, and potential challenges to build trust through honesty.
• Recognize and value community expertise. Communities have deep knowledge of local contexts, historical perspectives, and what solutions are likely to work. Treat community partners as co-researchers rather than research subjects.
• Provide fair compensation. Budget for community partner time and expertise at professional rates comparable to other consultants or experts. Consider both direct compensation and other forms of support like training, shared resources, etc.

These are building blocks for effective community engagement in higher education. This process requires ongoing attention and refinement; yet, creates a foundation for meaningful and impactful research collaborations.

Successful Examples of Community Engagement in Higher Education

The National Academies report outlined several successful examples of community engagement in higher education. One that stood out to me was the University of Pittsburgh’s long-term community partnerships through their Neighborhood Commitments Initiative. This place-based approach to community engagement addresses local disparities and translates research into practical solutions for communities, while directly responding to historical concerns about universities treating neighborhoods as research subjects rather than partners. The initiative provides facilities and funding to maintain community engagement, which allows faculty to respond immediately to urgent needs.

Pittsburgh also created infrastructure to support the initiative that enables a true partnership. Key components of Pittsburgh’s approach include:

• Long-term neighborhood commitments with dedicated resources and facilities
• Training and certification programs for both university and community engagement professionals
• Improved payment and contracting practices for community partners
• Support systems to translate research into community solutions
• Mechanisms for community members to serve as co-investigators
• Development of local research staff into engagement professionals

This comprehensive approach demonstrates how universities can move beyond traditional research models to create meaningful, sustainable community partnerships (National Academies, 2025).

If you are looking for more examples, the British Science Association has a collection of case studies on community engagement.

Leading Universities in Community Engagement

Universities across the United States are making significant organizational changes to support deeper community engagement. For example, the University of North Carolina-Charlotte appointed an Associate Provost specifically focused on connecting university research resources with community assets.  After renewing its commitment to community engagement, UC Davis established an Office of Public Scholarship and Engagement and achieved the Carnegie Foundation’s Community Engagement Classification. Brown University created a cabinet-level position focused on advancing community engagement, demonstrating high-level institutional commitment to this work.

What sets these institutions apart is their systematic approach to supporting engagement, including:

• Dedicated offices and staff for community partnerships
• Clear policies supporting engaged research
• Recognition of engagement in tenure and promotion decisions
• Funding mechanisms for community-engaged projects
• Training and support for faculty and community partners
• Systems for understanding and responding to community priorities
• Investment in long-term partnership capacity

These structural changes signal a shift from viewing community engagement as an add-on activity to seeing it as core to the university’s mission and success (National Academies, 2025).

Moving Forward With Community Engagement in Higher Education

“True co-production requires a perspective shift that values community skills and expertise on par with that of researchers, worthy of comparable levels of power and authority.” – Byron White, planning committee member and associate provost for urban research and community engagement at UNC Charlotte (National Academies, 2025)

Building meaningful community partnerships takes time, intentional effort, and sustained commitment. But the benefits for all (research, for communities, and for advancing knowledge that makes a real difference) make it worth the investment.

Whether you’re just starting to explore community engagement or looking to deepen existing partnerships, remember:

• Start small and build organically
• Focus on building authentic relationships
• Value different forms of expertise
• Let community needs help shape your research
• Measure success in ways meaningful to all partners

The future of research is with breaking down barriers between universities and communities, creating more equitable partnerships, and generating knowledge that serves the public good. By embracing engaged research, we can ensure our work creates lasting impact where it matters most.

Next Steps

Let’s work together to develop a strategic approach to community engagement for your institution and community. Schedule a free strategy session today to discuss how we can strengthen your community engagement.