Equity in Coastal Resilience: A Framework for University Engagement in Community-Based Projects

As communities face intensifying climate hazards, it is vital to strengthen resilience in ways that explicitly prioritize social equity. This study examines how higher education institutions can better support government, nonprofit, and community partners in advancing equity-centered coastal resilience in the U.S. Utilizing a qualitative research design, we analyze discussions among researchers and practitioners during a three-day workshop. We present a framework derived from a thematic analysis of breakout group transcripts from a three-day national virtual workshop involving 113 researchers and practitioners. The analysis identified four core themes: the necessity of aligning projects with community-defined priorities; the foundational role of long-term trust and relationship-building; the requirement for flexible funding to support sustained engagement; and the value of interdisciplinary, multifunctional teams. Findings indicate that while engaged and applied research can significantly advance equitable outcomes, academic researchers face systemic barriers, including rigid tenure timelines and insufficient institutional infrastructure. Consequently, we offer a three-pronged framework centered on early and continuous engagement, robust collaboration with extension services, and supportive university infrastructure. This framework provides practical guidance for institutions to transition from traditional ‘town and gown’ models toward meaningful, community-embedded, and equity-driven coastal resilience partnerships.