About
The Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement
Community engagement describes collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity. The purpose of community engagement is the partnership of college and university knowledge and resources with those of the public and private sectors to enrich scholarship, research, and creative activity; enhance curriculum, teaching, and learning; prepare educated, engaged citizens; strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility; address critical societal issues; and contribute to the public good.
The Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement is a voluntary designation recognizing institutions that have truly embedded community engagement into their mission, culture and operations. Unlike accreditation or rankings, this is an elective classification, meaning institutions choose to pursue it as a demonstration of their commitment to the communities they serve.
Why Pursue the Classification?
Demonstrates Commitment
The classification shows students, partners, funders and the broader field that your institution meets the standards of the Carnegie community engagement framework — that your work is reciprocal, institutionalized and sustained.
Builds a Culture of Accountability
The self-study process also helps institutions develop the systems to track, assess and communicate their community engagement work over time, which benefits both reclassification efforts and strategic planning.
Strengthens Your Institution From the Inside
Completing a self-study brings teams together who may rarely otherwise interact. This creates a more complete picture of the community engagement work already happening institution-wide.
Can Open Doors With Funders
For institutions seeking grants and partnerships where community engagement is a funding priority, holding the classification makes your work visible and credible.
Carries the Weight of the Carnegie Name
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has a long history of supporting and elevating higher education. The classification is prestigious, and the designation is recognized across the country and internationally.
How to Apply for the 2029 Cycle
The Community Engagement Elective Classification is currently on a three-year application cycle, with the next cycle taking place in 2029. The structure is as follows:
- Framework released and applications available: January 25, 2027
- Deadline for purchasing/initiating an application: November 8, 2027
- Application deadline: April 3, 2028
- Campuses notified of decision: December 2028
- Public decision announcement: January 2029
Please note: The 2029 cycle is open to new applicants only. Reclassifications will not take place during this cycle.
Application Support and Technical Assistance
As the host institution for the classification, USD is here to help you through every stage of the process. Our support includes:
Webinars and Training
We will offer regular programming covering information about the elective classification, how to build your team, how to conduct your self-study and how to make the most of the framework.
Communities of Practice
Whether you’re a community college, an HBCU or a regional university, we’ll connect you with institutions in similar contexts so you can work through the self-study process together.
Technical Assistance
Have questions as you work through your application? SOLES offers support to help you navigate the process and assess your institution’s work.
Consultant Connections
We can connect you with experienced consultants who specialize in supporting institutions through the classification process.
Helpful Resources
Going Global
About the International Elective Classifications
In 2015–2016, nine campuses in Ireland went through a yearlong process of administering the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement for the purpose of self-assessment and to provide feedback on ways in which the documentation framework might need to be adapted to account for national and cultural contexts.
In 2018, nine Australian institutions joined together in a national cohort to form a national learning community and:
- Work through the U.S. Classification Framework and Self Assessment
- Learn about their own campus capacity and commitment for community engagement
- Identify the ways the existing U.S. framework would need to be adapted and augmented for their particular national contexts
- Draft a new, nationally specific framework
- Potentially request foundation approval of these new frameworks as official Carnegie Classifications
By mid-2020, the Australian pilot institutions completed and submitted the existing U.S. classification application to reflect on and implement institution-wide measurements and evaluation methods of community engagement. The cohort then worked together as a learning community to identify needed adjustments to the existing classification, recommended solutions and contributed to the development of an Australian-specific version of the classification.
The Australian Carnegie Community Engagement Elective Classification, hosted by Engagement Australia launched in February of 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re wondering about it, others are too!
The difference between an elective classification and other Carnegie classifications comes down to how they’re assigned. Most Carnegie classifications — such as R1 or R2 research designations — are assigned automatically to institutions based on publically available data. The Community Engagement Elective Classification, for example, is elective, meaning institutions choose to apply. It’s one of three elective classifications; the others are Sustainability and Leadership for Public Purpose.
Any accredited U.S. college or university is eligible to apply for the Community Engagement Elective Classification. To see if your campus is eligible to apply, search for your institution using the Institution Search page.
Accepted institutions hold the classification for six years, with an application cycle every three years.
Once available, applications are purchased and submitted through GivePulse. Check back here for more information after the 2029 framework is released in January 2027.
No, the 2029 cycle is not open for reclassification. This cycle is only open to new applicants who do not currently hold the classification.
During the application process, USD SOLES provides support through webinars, technical assistance, communities of practice and consultant referrals.
No, the Community Engagement Elective Classification is not an accreditation, and it isn’t a ranking. It is a voluntary designation that recognizes institutions that have demonstrated institutionalized community engagement.
Important Deadline
Applications for the 2029 cycle open in January 2027.
Stay tuned for updates.