A Public Mission Is Not at Odds With Academe’s Values

October 18, 2011

“A commitment to the public mission of higher education does not come at the expense of values upon which the academy is built.”

“Syracuse’s Slide” (The Chronicle, October 2) presents one view of the impact of community engagement on an institution. Campus Compact sees the value of engagement in a broader context.

The public purpose of colleges and universities—both public and private—is deeply rooted in the history and founding of higher education in the United States, and has been instrumental in the establishment of the academy as a key institution which promotes democracy in our society. The growth in adapting institutional practices of engagement and community partnership has been steady in recent years and has profoundly reshaped the landscape of higher education. Campus Compact believes the new landscape should be celebrated and encouraged.