America's universities are facing unprecedented scrutiny and criticism. As pressure for institutional change has mounted, universities have taken steps to more effectively respond to the needs of their stakeholders. All of these activities are part of a broad movement to develop new and productive connections between the university and its publics. In this article, we draw on the interactional approach to community to give direction and purpose to the engagement agenda. We also develop a model of engagement and describe how it is related to the practice of community development. We conclude by suggesting how a new conception of scholarship--one that links academic excellence with civic participation--can facilitate community development.