A Dialogue of Consequence. Citizen Groups and Higher Education. A Manual to Guide Citizen Groups Leaders and Continuing Education Administrators in Forging Educational Partnerships.

Overview & Synopsis

This manual describes the basis for a working relationship between institutions of higher education, particularly a continuing education office, and citizen groups engaged in community action. The guide is based on discussions that took place during four meetings involving approximately 20 administrators of higher education and 10 citizen group leaders. The first section of the manual explores the potential for and benefits to be derived from cooperation between continuing education and citizen groups. Discussed in the second section are the following stages of citizen involvement and action: arousal, protest, organization and self-education, community education, and resolution. The third section describes the services needed most by citizen groups that higher education may be equipped to provide, proposes criteria for administrators of continuing education to apply in deciding whether the institution should get involved, and weighs the risks and benefits of such involvement. Examined in the final section are some important considerations about linkage with higher education, concerns about higher education, and techniques for developing strategies for approaching higher education (technical assistance, internal group maintenance, and education of the community). (MN)