Academic Public Good

Public good is generally defined as a benefit to or the well-being of society. However, articulating the centrality of the public good mission proves to be an easier task than understanding the degree to which the mission is being fulfilled. Higher education institutions typically identify a mission to articulate a purpose and a guiding framework for existence. There is an ongoing need to describe the aspects of what is public and to communicate the macro historical impact of higher education that has eluded a clear definition. This chapter creates a clear framework for understanding academic public good and positions each chapter as one perspective on the impact of university–community engagement. The seven chapters include education for elderly citizens, digital cultural preservation, creative tourism, the role of industry, transnational higher education, and social philosophy.