There is a growing movement to offer community-oriented, place-based, meaning-centered learning opportunities in rural, sometimes remote, locations. In addition, there are growing concerns that universities are disconnected from rural issues, ill-equipped to support rural students, and contributing to the urban/rural partisan divide. In this session, participants will explore ways colleges and universities can connect with domestic rural communities by engaging with rural educators active in community-oriented learning. Tom Schnaubelt will share experiences expanding rural engagement at Stanford University and Kam Bellamy of Springboard will share research into the burgeoning field of meaning-centered learning programs developing in rural communities. With students and practitioners, participants will explore ways colleges and universities can link to such programs and foster learning from rural communities.