What is National Campus Compact?
Campus Compact is a coalition of nearly 1,200 college and university presidents — representing some 6 million students — who are committed to fulfilling the public purposes of higher education. As the only national association dedicated to this mission, Campus Compact is a leader in building civic engagement into campus and academic life. Through our national office and network of 35 state offices, member institutions receive the training, resources, and advocacy they need to build strong surrounding communities and teach students the skills and values of democracy. 

Vision
Campus Compact envisions colleges and universities as vital agents and architects of a diverse democracy, committed to educating students for responsible citizenship in ways that both deepen their learning and improve the quality of community life. We challenge all of higher education to make civic and community engagement an institutional priority.

History
Campus Compact was founded in 1985 by the presidents of Brown, Georgetown and Stanford universities, and the president of the Education Commission of the States. In the mid-80s, the media portrayed college students as materialistic and self-absorbed, more interested in making money than in helping their neighbors. The founding presidents believed this public image was false; they noted many students on their campuses who were involved in community service and believed many others would follow suit with the proper encouragement and supportive structures.

The Result of This Work?

Campus Compact has conducted an annual membership survey since 1987 to assess the current state of campus-based community engagement and to indentify emerging trends. The data has shown a strong trend toward increased engagement among our member institutions, as measured by service opportunities, participation in service-learning, community partnerships, and resources and infrastructures to support service work.  Visit this link for survey highlights and full reports.

For more information visit: www.compact.org