This study aims to analyze how Community Higher Education Institutions, in their commitment to society, understand university extension. From the point of view of inseparability with teaching and research, extension has walked in search of its consolidation as an institutionally recognized learning space in the academy, thus contributing to the reflection of the contemporary social conjuncture, since the university is linked to society, by a common thread called social responsibility. The empirical study of the research was developed in the national territory, with a regional focus, in six Catholic higher education institutions that meet the legal requirement of a community university. Therefore, the qualitative research used the triangulation method, which allowed the combination of data collection, theories and samples to consolidate the conclusions regarding the development of extension in these universities. Seventeen semi-structured interviews were carried out individually, via a virtual platform, with managers, students and teachers as participants. Information about the development/construction of the extension was sought in the institutions whose responses were analyzed using content analysis as a methodological support. The results achieved indicate that the extension in these institutions is understood as an identity issue manifesting itself as the reason for existing of these universities. However, for the recognition of its true academic value inside and outside the university walls, great commitment is still necessary on the part of the actors involved with regard to the implementation, implementation and, consequently, consolidation of this policy as a fundamental part of the mission of community universities.