University wide Community Engagement Definition

Aim

The aim of this process is to consult upon and produce an ACU community engagement definition to be adopted university wide. The definition should balance the key features of best-practice community engagement and ACU’s mission and identity*. It is expected that definitions for community-engaged learning, and community-engaged research will exist under this overarching definition.

*Please also see the Carnegie definition of community engagement

To support the consultation process, three example definitions are provided below with explanations of their key features.

Staff are invited to rank these definitions via the form below, as well as leave qualitative commentary concerning their ranking as well as any other ideas you may have for a common definition.

Complete the form

There will also be online consultation sessions to discuss the development of the definition (To be announced).

Consultation will run until November 1, 2024. After this, feedback will be taken into consideration before the presentation of a suggested definition to the Vice-Chancellor’s Advisory Committee (VCAC).

We look forward to your feedback and suggestions.

Example A: Moderate changes

Original:

ACU defines community engagement as activities that build capacity and affirm human dignity through sustainable and reciprocal collaborations with communities who experience disadvantage or marginalisation

Suggested:

ACU defines community engagement as activities that build capacity, affirm human dignity, and further the common good through sustainable and reciprocal collaborations with communities (local, regional/state, national, global). Through the mutually beneficial creation and exchange of knowledge and resources, ACU transforms its learning, teaching, and research while partnering with communities for a more just society*

* In-line with the principles of Catholic Social Thought (CST), ACU prioritises work with communities who have traditionally experienced marginalisation

Features:

• Included core elements of Carnegie definition
• Removed language perceived as ‘deficit-based’ however included a sub-text that highlights a general priority area in-line with CST
• Widened the definition of community in-line with Carnegie. Working with groups who experience marginalisation a priority, however, not a limiting factor providing that the partnership is truly reciprocal and transformational.
• Retained ACU Identity and Mission
• Retained succinct nature of definition

Example B: Adopt Carnegie definition

Original:

ACU defines community engagement as activities that build capacity and affirm human dignity through sustainable and reciprocal collaborations with communities who experience disadvantage or marginalisation

Suggested:

ACU in-line with its mission and identity as a Catholic university adopts the Carnegie Foundation’s definition of the process and purpose of community engagement:

Process: “The collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial creation and exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity*.”

Purpose: “The partnership (of knowledge and resources) between higher education institutions and the public and private sectors to:

• Enrich scholarship, research, and creative activity
• Enhance curriculum, teaching, and learning
• Prepare educated, engaged citizens
• Strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility
• Address critical societal issues

and contribute to the public good.”

* In-line with the principles of Catholic Social Thought (CST), ACU prioritises work with communities who have traditionally experienced marginalisation

Features:

• Consistent with Carnegie Classification
• Absence of deficit language, however included sub-text that highlights a general priority area in-line with CST
• ACU’s mission and identity mentioned in the preamble

Example C: Minor changes

Original:

ACU defines community engagement as activities that build capacity and affirm human dignity through sustainable and reciprocal collaborations with communities who experience disadvantage or marginalisation

Suggested:

ACU defines community engagement as reciprocal and mutually beneficial partnerships that create and exchange knowledge, affirm human dignity, and pursue the common good*.

* In-line with the principles of Catholic Social Thought (CST), ACU prioritises work with communities who have traditionally experienced marginalisation

Features:

• Adopts core elements of Carnegie Classification
• Absence of deficit language, however included sub-text that highlights a general priority area in-line with CST
• Strong alignment with ACU mission statement
• Succinct in nature
• Makes partnership explicit