University & Community Partnerships

Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP)

http://www.ihep.org

IHEP is a non-profit organization that aims to foster access and success in postsecondary education through public policy research and other activities that inform and influence the policymaking process. The group also hosts the Alliance for Equity in Higher Education, which is a policy-based coalition comprised of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) (which represents historically black colleges and universities), the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). Read more about Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP)...

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES)

http://www.csrees.usda.gov

CSREES, an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provides funding support for education, research, and community outreach (extension) work done by land grant universities in support of their public service mission. Funded initiatives cover the whole gamut from the promotion of rural agriculture to low-income, urban community gardens and food nutrition programs. Read more about Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES)...

Community College National Center for Community Engagement

http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/engagement

The Community College National Center for Community Engagement promotes community engagement efforts by community colleges. The web site contains a wide variety of resources to support community college service learning and civic engagement efforts. Read more about Community College National Center for Community Engagement...

Center for Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement

http://www.aacu.org/civic_learning

Founded in 2003, the Center for Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement is a joint effort of the American Association of Colleges & Universities and Campus Compact, which is designed to incubate new ideas, research, and partnerships to promote civic engagement by universities. Read more about Center for Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement...

Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE)

http://www.civicyouth.org

Since 2001, CIRCLE has conducted, collected, and funded research on the civic and political participation of young Americans. CIRCLE is based in the University of Maryland's School of Public Policy. The group's web site has a number of reports on civic knowledge, service learning, and related issues. Read more about Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE)...

Center for Democracy and Citizenship

http://www.publicwork.org

Founded in 1989, the Center for Democracy and Citizenship at the University of Minnesota's Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, aims to promote both democratic theory and practice. The Center promotes a number of different university community partnership efforts, including programs centered in working with Hmong and Latino immigrants in the West Side of St. Paul, Minnesota. Read more about Center for Democracy and Citizenship...

American Democracy Project

http://www.aascu.org/programs/adp

The American Democracy Project is a multi-campus initiative that seeks to create an intellectual and experiential understanding of civic engagement for undergraduates enrolled at institutions that are members of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). The goal of the project is to produce graduates who understand and are committed to engaging in meaningful actions as citizens in a democracy. Read more about American Democracy Project...

American Council on Education

http://www.acenet.edu

ACE acts as a coordinating body for the nation's higher education institutions and seeks to provide leadership and a unifying voice on key higher education issues, as well as influence public policy through advocacy, research, and program initiatives. Its members include approximately 1,800 accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities and higher education-related associations, organizations, and corporations. Read more about American Council on Education...

University Leaders for a Sustainable Future

http://www.ulsf.org

ULSF's mission is to make sustainability a major focus of teaching, research, operations and outreach at colleges and universities worldwide. ULSF pursues this mission through advocacy, education, research, assessment, membership support, and international partnerships to advance education for sustainability. ULSF also serves as the Secretariat for signatories of the Talloires Declaration, a ten-point action plan committing institutions to sustainability and environmental literacy in teaching and practice. Read more about University Leaders for a Sustainable Future...

U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development, “Office of University Partnerships”

http://www.oup.org

The U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) has a number of grant programs that support community engagement efforts. This website lists the grant award winners and provides brief descriptions of the intended use of the grant funds, and also makes available a large number of publications on university-community partnership efforts. Read more about U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development, “Office of University Partnerships”...

National Forum on Higher Education for the Public Good

http://www.thenationalforum.org

The National Forum on Higher Education, founded in 2001 to extend the work of the Kellogg Commission, has as its aim to “increase awareness, understanding, commitment and action” of the public service role of higher education. Their web site outlines current projects and also contains numerous publications on university-community partnerships. Read more about National Forum on Higher Education for the Public Good...

National Collaborative for the Study of University Engagement

http://csue.msu.edu

National Collaborative for the Study of University Engagement (NCSUE), based at Michigan State University, seeks to develop a greater understanding of how university engagement enhances faculty scholarship and community progress by coordinating national efforts and bringing together Center staff with tenured faculty and community fellows who wish to write and present on their scholarship and engagement work. Read more about National Collaborative for the Study of University Engagement...

National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities

http://www.naicu.edu

Formed in 1976, NAICU represents nearly a thousand private independent colleges on policy issues with the federal government. Read more about National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities...

National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education

http://www.nafeo.org

Founded in 1969 by presidents and chancellors of the nation's historically and predominantly black colleges and universities. NAFEO today represents approximately 500,000 students and their families. NAFEO member institutions are public and private, 2- and 4-year, community, regional, national and international comprehensive research institutions, located in twenty-five states, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Brazil. Read more about National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education...

The International Town-Gown Association

http://www.itgau.org

The Association serves as a medium of information for educational institutions and the communities in which they are located.  The organization acts as a link to foster communication and increase the quality of life for residents, faculty, and students. Read more about The International Town-Gown Association...

Imagining America

http://www.imaginingamerica.org

Established in 1999, Imagining America: Artists and Scholars in Public Life is a consortium of over 80 colleges and universities based at the Syracuse University, whose mission is to strengthen the public role and democratic purposes of the humanities, arts, and design through a combination of projects, publications, and conferences. Read more about Imagining America...

Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities

http://www.hacu.net

Established in 1986, HACU today represents more than 450 colleges and universities committed to Hispanic higher education success in the United States, Puerto Rico, Latin America, Spain and Portugal. Although its U.S. member institutions represent less than 10% of higher education institutions nationwide, together they are home to more than two-thirds of all Hispanic college students. Read more about Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities...

Higher Education Network for Community Engagement

http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/organisations/detail/evidencenet/hence

The Higher Education Network for Community Engagement (HENCE) aims to deepen, consolidate, and advance the literature, research, practice, policy, and advocacy for community engagement as a core element of higher education's role in society. Through its work, the group hopes to encourage and consolidate efforts that connect academic work to public purposes by transforming academic culture and better linking faculty and students with communities. Read more about Higher Education Network for Community Engagement...

Corporation for National & Community Service

http://www.nationalservice.gov

This federal government program provides opportunities for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to serve their communities and country through three programs: Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America. Members and volunteers serve with national and community nonprofit organizations, faith-based groups, schools, and local agencies to help meet community needs. Read more about Corporation for National & Community Service...