The Center supports a University curriculum and research agenda by uniting academics and action, classroom and communities through which students, faculty, and community partners dedicate themselves to the transformation of civic life.
Tulane University defines community engagement as a collaborative and reciprocal relationship between the university and external partners, designed to advance shared goals while fostering equity, mutual respect, and long-term impact. This definition, grounded in Tulane’s institutional values, emphasizes co-creation—a model where university faculty, students, and community organizations work together to generate knowledge, solve problems, and contribute to the public good. Unlike traditional service models, Tulane’s approach ensures that community members are active contributors, rather than passive recipients, of engagement efforts.
Vision
To promote community, equity, mutual respect and long-term impact.
Mission
The Center for Public Service is committed to collaborative partnerships and programs that cultivate an environment that focuses on learning and the co-creation of new knowledge by fostering community-building initiatives with cultural and social understanding that integrate with and strengthen learning in the context of the unique qualities of our location in New Orleans.
Core Values
In line with the University’s Core Values, we uphold the following as the foundation and guiding principles for Community & Civic Engagement at Tulane.
- Collaborative Engagement: Being driven by knowing all of the good we can accomplish with integrity, freedom of expression, partnership and engagement with our community, our region and our world.
- Welcoming Community: Making Tulane a supportive and respectful home for community members from the widest array of backgrounds, cultivating a broad range of perspectives.
- Inspiring Excellence: Being purpose-driven and intentional in everything we do – from our groundbreaking research to teaching to public service.
- Building Community: Developing authentic, trusting relationships and participating in civic life
Center for Public Service Statement of Purpose
The Center for Public Service actively promotes:
- Incorporate intercultural frameworks into all our programs
- Develop a sense of self-agency and social responsibility that includes all in the community and the larger global context
- Seek to work with all groups in meeting their needs through equitable processes and distribution of resources
- Raise social consciousness, and work to repair past and current harms on campus communities
- Foster a sense of belonging and full participation of all groups to thrive, realize their capabilities, engage meaningfully in campus and community life, and contribute to the growth of one another
