This research examines the significance of higher education institutions (HEIs) as anchors in their host cities and their community engagement strategies between 1980 and 2020. By examining four case studies of urban-based universities that are members of the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU) across diverse geographical and…

Building upon the proposed concept of an engagement of hope (Green, Stewart, Bergen, & Nayve, 2020) emerging from the exploration of faith-based approaches to community engagement, the authors delve into collaborative inquiry and critical reflection to construct a framework and equity-centered theory of action for community engagement. Drawing…

Urban-serving research universities (USRUs) address issues of access, community engagement, and development within urban areas, but internal and external forces complicate their place-based missions. By embracing contradictions within stakeholder viewpoints, strategic planning can foster fruitful, institutionalized engagement. This mixed-methods…

This study examines how a university's research activities are viewed through the priorities of both of the university and the surrounding community. Framed by the notion of anchor institution, the study reports the results of a case study of the US regional university within an urban context. The findings demonstrate the lack of consensus around…

This article focuses on the implications and creative possibility catalyzed by the COVID-19 pandemic and reinvigorated racial justice movement on infrastructure that seeks to build transformational community-engaged teaching and research partnerships. Pulling from existing literature around critical service-learning and the wisdom of scholars from…

This dissertation focuses on identifying essential characteristics of initiatives that build cooperative relationships and solidarity to advance democratically engaged community-campus partnerships. As such, it involves understanding the conditions that undermine these relationships, the critical practices that strengthen them, and the role of…

Interest in universities as anchor institutions within their communities and cities is growing as civic leaders search for ways to build local wealth. Systematic analysis of the effects of anchor institution initiatives remains difficult due to the disparate nature of anchor initiatives and a relative lack of a shared language describing the work.…

A growing number of colleges and universities have come to recognize the role and responsibilities they have in the economic and social fabric of their surrounding communities and regions as anchor institutions. Yet, the conditions of urban communities surrounding even the most engaged universities--including under-resourced public schools,…

This qualitative participatory action research project demonstrates how participation in a community-based internship (CBI), a hybridization of service-learning and internship practices, affects undergraduate students, community partners, and the university at a large public university. This article outlines a rationale for the study,…

Can verse mediate between the educational institution and the wider community of which it is a part? Utilising a case study of a specific taught module, this essay considers whether the performance of poetry as an experiential learning activity has a role to play in the emerging concept of the university as an anchor institution, a term that…

The university-city relations are changing along with the engagement of universities in public service beyond teaching and research and the dependence of cities on networks rather than enclosure to promote urban competitiveness. Taking China as an example, this article discusses the challenges and tensions of university-city interaction in the…

The Catholic, Jesuit inspired mission of Saint Louis University (SLU) -- "the pursuit of truth for the greater glory of God and for the service of humanity" -- firmly places serving humanity in line with the institution's goal for academic excellence. Importantly, service in the tradition of Catholic, Jesuit education is embedded in a…

This study explores the changing mission statements of the University of Toledo and how those changes impacted the social contract between the University and city of Toledo. Specially, the study engages in historical and documental analysis and investigates three major moments in the history of the University of Toledo when Toledoans engaged…

Places of worship play important roles as anchor institutions that promote community engagement and motivate political activity. Universities, particularly in urban settings, can also serve as anchor institutions that connect communities. Yet, there is often a gulf between the two, to the detriment of the broader community. In this article, we…

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of urban institutions of higher education on social sustainability of the community. Three urban colleges in Vietnam were involved in this study. Methods: Questionnaires and interviews were administered to 120 local residents and 1470 students and college employees (office and teaching staff)…