What does it mean to be an "urban university"?

An urban university means much more than being located in a city setting. At the heart of the urban university is its mission to provide high-quality education, shaped by and relevant to the urban community. The urban university draws on the urban setting to enhance the educational opportunities it provides to the community. The urban university also addresses urban issues through education, research, and outreach in order to produce knowledge that applies more generally to urban society.

Other components that most urban universities have in common include commitments to…

• promoting diversity among the student body, faculty, and staff and in the interdisciplinary nature of its educational programs, and
• providing opportunities for life-long learning, including offering classes on weekends and evenings and through alternative delivery modes (e.g., online classes) to accommodate working adults and parents

Do urban universities share common characteristics?