By the early years of this new century it was evident that increasing numbers of colleges and universities had undertaken numerous innovative efforts to reinvigorate and prioritize students' civic and community engagement in their surrounding communities. However, a number of individuals involved with these movements had noticed that much of the most ambitious and innovative work was taking place in teaching-focused community and liberal arts colleges and state universities. Research universities were relatively less involved. Recognizing the need to encourage engaged scholarship at research universities and these institutions' potential to provide leadership in this arena, Campus Compact executive director Liz Hollander, and Rob Hollister, dean of the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service at Tufts University, decided in 2005 to convene scholars from some of the research universities. Thus in October 2005 individuals from 13 research universities met at Tufts for a two-day meeting. The group not only shared their ideas but decided to take action by becoming a more prominent and visible "voice for leadership" in the larger civic engagement movement in higher education. A formal ongoing steering committee was created, and the group adopted a name, The Research University Community Engagement Network (TRUCEN).