The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching invites  colleges and universities with an institutional focus on community  engagement to apply for the elective classification, first developed  and offered in 2006 as part of an extensive restructuring of the  Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The  elective Community Engagement Classification provides a way for  institutions to describe their identity and commitments to community  with a public and nationally recognized classification.   Community-Campus Partnerships for Health Executive Director Sarena  Seifer serves on the National Advisory Panel for the classification.

A total of 311 institutions have been successfully classified in the  Community Engagement Classification since 2006. Campuses that received  the Classification in 2006 and 2008 will undertake re-classification  application and review in order to retain the Classification. Campuses  classified in 2010 do not need to apply for re-classification at this  time.

"The Community Engagement Classification represents a significant  affirmation of the importance of community engagement in the agenda of  higher education," said Carnegie President Anthony S. Bryk.  "The Foundation believes that  the Classification provides campuses of every institutional type an  opportunity to affirm a commitment to community engagement as an  essential aspect of institutional mission and identity."

The Foundation defines community engagement as "the 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." That definition and the documentation frameworks for the  classification and re-classification are intentionally inclusive to  honor the diversity of institutions and their approaches to community  engagement.

Those institutions interested in the 2015 Classification, either as  first-time applicants or campuses seeking re-classification, are urged  to review the application process, timeline, documentation frameworks,  and other information on the Carnegie website before making a decision  to apply. Applications are available between May 1 and July 1, 2013,  and will be due on April 15, 2014.

For more information, visit http://bit.ly/UOC6CG

Inquiries about the Community Engagement Classification should be  directed to John Saltmarsh at ([email protected]) or Amy Driscoll  ([email protected]).

Contact: John Saltmarsh, Director New England Resource Center for Higher Education [email protected] 617 287-7743

Amy Driscoll, Consulting Scholar Carnegie Community Engagement Classification  [email protected] 503 227-9443

Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching is working toward a  more productive approach to educational research and development,  joining researchers, practitioners, and expert others on common goals  to solve problems in networked communities. Today, our initiatives are  focused on creating pathways for student success in community colleges  and improving teaching practice. We are an operating foundation located  in Stanford, California.