Engaging Communities in Challenging Times: Lessons Learned from the Master Gardener Program During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Problem The centrality of community engagement to the success of higher education is incontestable. When the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic emerged in early 2020, organizations and institutions, including universities had to suspend most community engagement activities, which is predominantly done in-person, across states in order to reduce the spread of the virus. This was a call for strategic rethinking to remain mission focused in adverse situations. The Recommendation I recommend the modified Framework for University Community Partnership (UCP) and scenario planning, a widely utilized support scheme for strategic decision making to human resource development (HRD) practitioners as pivotal for community engagement. This article seeks to help organizations adjust effectively to the “new normal.” The Stakeholders This article seeks to provide the impetus for higher education institutions to effectively develop community engagement processes in the post-COVID-19 era. Furthermore, the article is written to benefit HRD professionals, nonprofit organizations, volunteers, and other community engagement programs.