This essay builds on and extends earlier research and writing that the authors have done, trying to understand how a commitment to local engagement, which is the term commonly used at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn), becomes embedded in the core work of the institution. Their inquiries have been guided by social psychologist Kurt Lewin's…

Benjamin Franklin founded the University of Pennsylvania as a secular institution with the pragmatic aim of instilling in its students the inclination and ability to serve humankind in both the civic and mercantile realms. On this, the three hundredth anniversary of his birth (1706-2006), Franklin's ideal of a democratic, engaged university has…

For junior colleges that cannot support a full-time public-relations director, the author suggests a program using the resources at hand. A flow chart must be made so that the faculty or administration member handling the program knows where to collect his information. (If possible, he should receive released time or extra pay.) Faculty members…

Some successful programs of the Free Library of Philadelphia public relations staff are described. (PF)

Draws upon community field theory and human ecology and uses data from 120 rural Pennsylvania school districts to examine the relative contributions of past community actions, development of solidarity, and ecological variables (socioeconomic status, remoteness, previous industrialization, and percentage of residents commuting to work) to the…

Contends that the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission's mandate helped the Harrisburg City Schools realize their responsibilities in race relations; that after a lengthy quest for a way to achieve racial balance without extensive busing the City schools realized that there was no other way to accomplish the goal. (RJ)

This school district guide examines the why of long-range planning, the relationship between long-range planning and educational change, the long-range planning process, community involvement in planning, the communicating of educational quality assessment and other needs assessment results with the public, needs assessment, prioritizing district…

The Philadelphia Commission on Decentralization and Community Participation offers plans for reforms on the school and district level. On the school level, three options are suggested: (1) informal community participation in decision-making; (2) advisory participation in the form of an elected or appointed committee from the community; or, (3)…

All thirty-two prime sponsors of Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) program in Pennsylvania were surveyed in order to determine their observations about the nature and effectiveness of CETA/educational linkages in their areas. The respondents were also asked to nominate programs in their areas that they considered as good or poor…