Campus Compact

The field of community engagement in higher education has expanded significantly in the last three decades. Its varied disciplinary perspectives, diverse stakeholders, and wide-ranging cultural contexts have positively contributed to student learning outcomes and community impact. With this expansion comes methodological challenges for doctoral scholars of community engagement, who often lack guidance around conducting community-engaged research that may question traditional epistemologies and ontologies. In this systematic literature review, we analyzed 36 dissertations published between 2018 and 2022 to identify the trends, gaps, and challenges in doctoral research on community engagement. Challenges identified included rethinking research designs, expanding subjects and participants, promoting cross-cultural and global studies, and revisiting epistemological and ontological stances. Recommendations include an open-access dissertation repository, formalized support for graduate students, recognition of “trendbreaking” scholars, and wider embrace of the global network of researchers of community engagement.

This study investigated the relationship between technology use and skills and the use of constructivist instructional practices among teachers in rural schools. Teachers in this study responded to Moersch’s instrument, the Levels of Technology Implementation (Lo Ti). The Lo Ti was administered to the fourth and eighth grade teachers in 11 school districts to determine if levels of classroom technology use and personal computer use predicted the use of constructivist instructional practices. Results indicate that there is a significant, positive relationship between both levels of classroom technology use and personal computer use and the use of constructivist instructional practices, with personal computer use being the strongest predictor.

On this imagined campus, respectful dialogue about public issues resonates through residence halls, public spaces, and classrooms. A sense of commitment and purpose is palpable among students, as well as among administrators, staff, and faculty. Students find ways to contribute to the public good that they enjoy and find fulfilling and that often intersect with their course of study. There is constant activity around campus as students and others work on service projects, advocacy campaigns, and community based research.