Date of Thesis

Spring 2025

Description

This research uses Bucknell and Lewisburg as a case study to understand the relationship between universities and their surrounding communities. While prior research has focused on urban, large, and/or research-oriented universities, the rural, small, and predominantly liberal arts nature of Bucknell provides an opportunity to explore how campus-community relationships vary by environment. Forty-eight qualitative semi-structured interviews and 12 months of observation of Lewisburg Borough Council meetings are used to explore three main areas of the town-gown relationship: economics, space, and social capital. These three themes emerged from interviews and observations as the most important determinants of residents’ perceptions of the University. Regarding economics, local respondents recognized employment, attracting students and parents with spending power, business assistance, and community revitalization as mechanisms through which Bucknell contributes to the local economy. In the scope of space, Lewisburg respondents varied in their comfort using Bucknell’s campus. Further, government officials, merchants, and other residents differed both in their reactions to student behavior in off-campus housing as well as in how they felt it should be handled. Socially, all Lewisburg respondents interviewed for this project felt they had at least one strong personal connection to the University, but many respondents wanted a wider network of relationships at Bucknell, and more opportunities to connect with Bucknell constituents with decision-making authority. The results of this research point to the continued significance of sociological theory including in-group/out-group theory, social contact theory, Weber’s ideal-types of authority, cultural capital, social exchange theory, and the norm of reciprocity.

Keywords

Town-Gown, Campus-Community Relationship, Community Engagement, Reciprocity, Case Study, Sociology

Access Type

Honors Thesis

Degree Type

Bachelor of Arts

Major

Sociology

Minor, Emphasis, or Concentration

Social Justice

First Advisor

Elizabeth Durden

Second Advisor

Deborah Abowitz

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