Second, universities possess enormous resources, ranking among the largest nongovernmental employers in many cities. Today, programs to revitalize communities span the spectrum from job training to housing assistance to dealing with public safety issues. There is increasing recognition that community revitalization efforts need to be sustainable and comprehensive, as discrete educational efforts have proved to be insufficient to address the complex nature of educational challenges in poor communities. By partnering with local organizations, universities have the means, the need, and the mission to transform their communities. Faculty work that benefits the community is recognized as career enhancing, on par with the traditional measures of teaching and research.
Goals are part of a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization strategy.
The effort is sustainable in the long term. Residents are included in the institution's decision-making process about what assistance is to be provided to the neighborhood. Community-based organizations are partners with the higher education institutions from the planning stages through implementation. Applied research is related to the outreach activities and usable in those activities that form the basis of university-community partnership grants. Assistance is provided to neighborhoods primarily by the faculty or students, or to a lesser extent by neighborhood residents or community-based organizations funded by the university.