ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the efforts of university-based programs within the field of community design and presents an evaluative framework for community-based projects as a starting point. If the community-based design movement is to grow, it will be critical for its proponents to share knowledge that can help guide design and planning education. After giving a brief overview of approaches to assessment in community settings, the chapter presents a working framework for evaluation. It also presents a framework to evaluate the work of community-based design that proposes a twofold approach to assessment: centrifugal knowledge, involving activities aimed toward the external goals of community groups and related community development intermediaries, and centripetal knowledge, involving activities directed toward the internal goals particular to university-based community design programs. In addition to advancing the goals of community groups, university-based projects and programs seek to improve the pedagogy and practice of design.
