Serving Ourselves: How the Discourse on Community Engagement Privileges the University over the Community

Using methods of discourse analysis, the author analyzed examples of the word "community" from 25 of the most recent articles in the Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning. This analysis uncovered a variety of ways in which the university appears to be privileged over the community in the discourse of higher education community-based engagement. This paper discusses four themes emerging from the analysis that represent this privileging: community as a means by which the university enhances its academic work; community as a recipient of influence by the university; community as a place which the university makes better; and community as a factor in the financial interest of the university. By identifying these subtle yet troubling themes, the author aims to inspire more community-focused research as well as to encourage scholars to reflect critically on how their discourses shape an evolving understanding of community-engaged practice.