Campus Compact is a national nonprofit organization that brings together colleges and universities dedicated to serving their communities and promoting civic engagement and democracy. It supports member institutions in fostering civic engagement by offering training, resources, networking opportunities, and recognition programs. The organization helps higher education leaders, faculty, staff, and students build meaningful partnerships with communities, address social challenges, and commit to advancing equity, justice, and public well-being. Founded in 1985 by university presidents and civic leaders, Campus Compact remains a prominent voice in the field of higher education and civic responsibility.
Examples of Campus Compact’s Work:
1. AmeriCorps Programs at Campus Compact: Campus Compact supports AmeriCorps members who serve on college campuses and in local communities. Through programs such as AmeriCorps VISTA and EnviroCorps, these members help expand service-based projects, support academic–community partnerships, and bolster public service initiatives.
2. Student Fellowships That Foster Leadership:
Newman Civic Fellowship: This year-long program identifies and supports students across member campuses who are building leadership skills through civic engagement and public problem-solving.
Student Design Fellows: These students embark on a two-year, co-creative leadership path, working with Campus Compact staff, campus partners, and national allies to shape civic engagement programming.
3. Recognition Through Impact Awards: Campus Compact’s Impact Awards celebrate outstanding civic and community engagement. Institutions, programs, and individuals are recognized for initiatives that leverage civic collaboration to address systemic issues such as public health, economic inequity, and climate resilience.
Recent awardees include:
Swarthmore College’s Chester–Swarthmore Fellows Council
University of Iowa’s Initiative for Sustainable Communities
University of Virginia’s Youth Action Lab and Lugo–McGinness Academy
4. Networks and Collaborative Platforms: Campus Compact offers targeted Affinity Networks, fostering collaboration among colleges based on shared contexts or themes:
Community Colleges Network
Research University Civic Engagement Network (TRUCEN)
Rural Serving Institutions Network
Campus CoGenerate Network, focusing on intergenerational problem-solving
Affordable Housing Network, aimed at leveraging higher education institutions to address housing issues
These networks deepen peer learning and collective problem-solving across diverse institutional contexts.
5. Innovation in Civic Engagement:
Campus Museums of Service: Partnering with the National Museum & Center for Service, this initiative helps campuses design exhibitions that honor service and community engagement.
Campus Cogenerate: In collaboration with Cogenerate, this program brings together older adults and students to solve community problems through co-creative engagement.
Democracy Inventory Project: Developed with the American Association of Colleges & Universities, this effort helps higher education institutions map and coordinate civic engagement strategies to advance democratic values.
HUD + Higher Ed Engagement Network: Builds partnerships between colleges and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to promote inclusive, sustainable community development.
Campus Compact. (n.d.). About. Campus Compact. https://compact.org/about
Campus Compact. (n.d.). What we do. Campus Compact. https://compact.org/about/what-we-do
Wikipedia contributors. (2024, March 22). Campus Compact. In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campus_Compact