Carnegie Classification Resources
Community Engagement Classification
The Carnegie Community Engagement Classification is a nationally recognized designation that highlights colleges and universities committed to meaningful, reciprocal partnerships with their communities. Administered by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in partnership with the American Council on Education (ACE), the classification recognizes institutions that demonstrate deep, sustained community engagement that benefits both the campus and the public.
What the Classification Means
Carnegie Community Engagement is not a ranking or an award — it is an elective, evidence-based classification. Institutions earn this classification by documenting how community engagement is embedded across their mission, culture, leadership, and operations. Follow the link to access all the resources that Carnegie Foundation has to offer.
According to Carnegie, community engagement is defined as “the collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity.”
→ Read Carnegie’s full definition of community engagementUTRGV has formally adopted this Carnegie-prescribed definition to guide its approach to community engagement across teaching, research, service, and institutional partnerships.
UTRGV and the Carnegie Classification
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a Carnegie Community Engagement–classified institution, having first earned the classification in 2020 and proudly retained it through reclassification in 2026. This designation recognizes the university’s long-standing commitment to community-engaged teaching, scholarship, and partnerships throughout the Rio Grande Valley.