The latest classified institutions receiving the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Elective Classification for Community Engagement were recently announced for the 2024 cycle. In the landscape of higher education, community engagement has become a cornerstone, fostering collaboration with broader communities for mutual knowledge exchange and resource-sharing. Established in 2006, the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement is a pivotal framework for evaluating and recognizing institutions' commitment to community engagement.
What is the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement
The Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement, initiated in 2006 by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, evaluates higher education institutions based on their commitment to community engagement. At its core, the classification signifies a collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (including nonprofit partners, businesses, city government, etc.), whether local, regional, national, or global. It provides a structured framework to assess institutions' involvement in service-learning, curricular engagement, outreach, partnerships, and overall institutional commitment to community engagement.
The classification offers recognition, visibility, and accountability for institutions actively engaging with their communities (ranging from volunteer management efforts to deeper efforts of engaged scholarship and resource & knowledge sharing). It is a tool that allows institutions to identify areas of improvement and alignment in enhancing their community engagement initiatives.
Congratulations to the 2024 Cycle Community Engagement Classified Institutions
On January 8, 2024, The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education (ACE) released the 2024 cycle classified institutions! We extend our congratulations to all the recipients, and we are proud of the 12 GivePulse campuses represented in the recipients for their hard work and dedication to community engagement. Today, we celebrate their commitment to making a positive impact.
- California State University, San Bernardino
- Saint Mary’s College of California
- Boise State University
- Tufts University
- Oakland University
- High Point University
- East Carolina University
- North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
- The University of North Carolina Greensboro
- Rutgers University-Camden
- Portland State University
- Washington and Lee University
Plus, take a look at the GivePulse recap from the previous 2020 classification cycle here.
GivePulse’s support of the Classification process
As the host platform for the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, GivePulse plays a pivotal role in supporting institutions throughout the application process. The latest cycle for the classification, released in January 2024, saw 12 GivePulse partners recognized for their outstanding dedication to community engagement. Learn more about how GivePulse supports campuses applying for the classification.
Navigating this classification process is no small feat, and we congratulate all who took the time to apply. It requires a significant investment of time and data preparation - GivePulse steps in with a suite of unique tools designed to streamline this journey. From collecting quantitative and qualitative data to its thorough assessment, the GivePulse platform ensures institutions present accurate and compelling evidence of their institution-wide commitment to service and engagement.
The platform excels in automating engagement tracking improving quality in data collection across programs and departments at the institution — a critical element for the classification's consideration. Additionally, GivePulse provides a plethora of data tracking, scheduling, and assessment tools to streamline management and reporting. Institutions leverage these tools to gain insights into their engagement landscape, from heat maps highlighting strong and weak engagement areas to identifying which partner(s) are working with which faculty, staff, program, or department and understanding how students, faculty, staff, and alumni are involved.
GivePulse, having proudly hosted the Community Engagement Classification for the past few cycles (and in different countries like Canada and Australia), is excited to continue this role in other elective classifications like the Leadership for Public Purpose classification and, very soon, others. Throughout these cycles, GivePulse technology assisted hundreds of campuses to apply, allowing reviewers from scholars and graduate student leaders to document their feedback and scores, while providing tailored tools for institutions to track their community engagement and leadership work.
GivePulse is dedicated to supporting institutions in their tracking and measuring endeavors. If your institution aims to apply for the classification in 2026 keep reading to learn how we can support you and schedule time with the GivePulse team to explore how our platform can empower your commitment to community engagement and leadership.
2026 Community Engagement Classification Resources
For institutions pursuing the 2026 cycle, The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education (ACE) offers an extensive list of resources and upcoming conferences to delve into the application process. Additionally, GivePulse, in collaboration with The Carnegie Foundation, ACE, and previously classified campuses, has recorded a three-part webinar series. These webinars provide invaluable insights into the application and data collection processes, offering a comprehensive guide for institutions embarking on this community engagement journey. View Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 on demand. Plus, stay tuned for GivePulse sessions hosted in February 2024, listed here, and additional data collection resources.
Advancing the Impact
As we reflect on the accomplishments of the classified institutions for the 2024 cycle and look ahead to the 2026 cycle, GivePulse remains committed to supporting institutions in their community engagement endeavors. If your institution is gearing up for the classification in 2026, schedule some time with the GivePulse team to explore how our platform can empower your institution's commitment to community engagement. Together, let's continue fostering meaningful collaborations and advancing the collective impact of higher education on our communities.
About GivePulse
GivePulse's mission is to enable everyone in the world to participate and engage in lifting their community to new heights. We do so by providing a platform to list, find, organize and measure the impact of service-learning, community engagement, philanthropy, corporate social responsibility and volunteerism.
Founded in 2012 in Austin, Texas, GivePulse works with 650,000+ groups, including colleges and universities, nonprofits, businesses, K-12/school districts and cities and municipalities. Together, we connect millions of people in an effort to create positive social change.
Start making a difference today by visiting www.givepulse.com. Or schedule a call with our team.