This essay examines how the social construction of community may influence faculty perceptions, roles, and actions in rural community development outreach. Special attention is given to the social construction of rural communities and how disciplinary perspective and popular culture influence these perceptions of community. The essay considers how social constructions are manifested in community development outreach by reflecting on the relevant literature, and the author's own experiences with a long-term university-sponsored outreach program. The essay also considers how these issues related to social construction can be addressed through principle and practice as illustrated through the experiences of the West Virginia Community Design Team. Five suggestions regarding faculty roles in rural community development outreach are presented.