Discussion Paper

Community-campus partnerships for economic development: community perspectives

Abstract: Formal collaborations between community groups and academic institutions to promote economic development have increased substantially over the past 10 years. The bulk of research on community-campus partnerships has focused on the experiences of institutions of higher learning and the foundations that have funded the collaborations, leaving a gap in our understanding of community experiences. This report draws on a variety of sources, including first-person interviews and academic literature, to bring out community perspectives on what makes for successful partnerships. The conclusions are presented as practical suggestions for community groups and campuses seeking to optimize partnerships. Four case studies describe lessons learned by participating community groups.

Keywords: Community development; Universities and colleges;

Bibliographic Information

Provider: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

Part of Series: Public and Community Affairs Discussion Papers

Publication Date: 2005

Number: 2005-2