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

Please rank these Community Engagement definitions in order of preference with 1 being most preferred and 3 least preferred.

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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