Internal Meanings and Markers of College and University Community Service

Abstract

The authors examined the perceived differences in community service attentiveness in forty-two colleges and universities in urbanized areas. Results indicate that the vast majority of colleges and universities consider community service a high priority of their mission and integral to community relations. A wide gap, however, exists between rhetoric and practice. Perceptions of internal institutional involvement and advocacy in community service differ significantly between service attentive and inattentive institutions. In addition, interest and involvement of institutional leaders are more important in creating service attentive institutions in their communities.