The University of Guelph Rural Development Outreach Project (RDOP) as it was conceived, organized and utilized in rural communities in Ontario is the major focus of this document; the concluding sections describe some of the problems of Outreach implementation and suggest some possible courses for continuing and expanding the project. There is discussion of: the responsibility of institutions of higher education to help areas deal more effectively with problems within their jurisdiction; the background of the RDOP; Outreach activity groups; the philosophy governing development of a rural outreach program; the program's initial scope and perceived organizational structure, process, and facilities; and the early development, organization, and implementation of RDOP. Next is a description of the pilot projects at Huron (a rural-traditional area), Halton (adjacent to Metropolitan Toronto and experiencing extensive overspill), and Moose Factory Island (which needed an action plan for the provision of water and sewage). The report highlights benefits derived from RDOP by both the pilot communities and the university and points out the constraints which had to be overcome. The final section emphasizes that an expanded Outreach program will require increased commitment from both university and the government and a redefinition and refinement of the community's role. (CM)