ABSTRACT
Recent scholarship has called on universities to promote social responsibility and civic engagement among their students and in their policies and practices (Colby et al., 2003; Mayhew & DeLuca, 2007; O’Grady, 2000). Professional organizations have likewise underscored the role of higher education in maintaining and informing democracies (American Association of Colleges and Universities, 2006). It is clear from the dialogue among both scholars and practitioners that postsecondary education has a role in helping students contribute to their personal and professional communities. Currently, many students participate in formal curricular and co-curricular leadership development programs, while many others engage in service-learning or volunteer efforts. Policies, initiatives, and programs have evolved to promote many kinds of community-university partnerships, to include student engagement.
