An Examination of Howard University's Community Service Contributions to the Pleasant Plains Neighborhood.

Howard University has incorporated community service into its missions, visions and strategic plans. To this end, Howard prides itself on offering a continuum of service activities in which many of the institution's faculty, staff, students, alumni, and retirees are engaged. This Community Technical Assistance Project (CTAP) examined perceptions of Howard's service to the community. The first stage examined contributions Howard has made to the Pleasant Plains neighborhood and residents. Stage two studied contributions from the perspectives of students, staff, faculty and administrators. This study employed community-based participatory research (CBPR), to gather qualitative data about the relationship between Howard and the community around it. An important theme generated from this study was the importance of communication. Howard conducts more community service activities than community members are aware of. Key informants differed in their opinion as to how effective Howard is at communicating programs offered, as well as the university's involvement in civic activities. Howard needs to redirect community service efforts so they are relevant to the current residents. From these results, Howard has to actively educate not only faculty, staff and students, but also its neighbors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]