Developing a “Sense of Community”: Exploring a Cognitive Component of Civic Engagement

Abstract

Civic engagement has become an important component of higher education practice that assists colleges and universities in fulfilling their civic mission and public purpose. This reflective essay outlines an oftentimes forgotten aspect of that work—how we integrate students into the life of a community and help them develop a sense of interdependence with it. The concept of “sense of community” allows this opportunity and should be incorporated in higher education professions as both a guiding principle and an outcome of engaged scholarship. The author outlines the idea of incorporating the sense of community concept into higher education civic engagement, including its definition, its impact, and implications for current practice. While not prescriptive in its analysis and propositions, the article poses questions for thoughtful reflection on civic engagement in higher education.