Current definition

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

Example A: Moderate changes

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

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

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
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