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Boundary Spanner Role Conflict In Public Urban Universities, Joseph Gauntner

ETD Archive

Universities are increasingly seeking partnerships with external organizations for student learning and inter-organizational access to resources (Austin, 2010 Sandmann, 2006). The focus of such partnerships includes employee training, business development, affordable housing, community schools, community health centers, and other projects of reciprocal value to both the universities and community partners. Such work is frequently labeled university-community engagement (Carnegie Foundation, 2007). University staff members who build and sustain partnerships between their institutions and the broader community are referred to as boundary spanners (AASCU, 2004). Working as agents of the institution, a boundary spanner must be capable of working both sides of …