Assessing the Performance of Higher Education Institution (HEI)- Community Partnerships

Abstract

As partnerships between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and communities have taken on increased importance, greater attention has been paid to how these partnerships are formed, the manner in which they operate, and what they can accomplish. Assessing the performance of these partnerships is critical for accountability, transparency, and understanding their value. However, no performance assessment framework exists of HEI-community partnerships. In this paper we summarize scholarship on HEI-community partnerships and present a conceptual framework to assess their performance. The assessment framework provides a mechanism for continuous improvement. Practical considerations and future research directions conclude the paper.