Carnegie Foundation selects USI for 2026 Community Engagement Classification

The University of Southern Indiana has received the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement (CE) Classification, an elective designation awarded by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, highlighting USI’s commitment to community engagement. USI initially received this classification in 2008, was reclassified in 2015 and has now been reclassified again in 2026. 

The CE Classification is awarded following a process of self-study by each institution. The classification has been the leading framework for institutional assessment and recognition of community engagement in U.S. higher education for the past 19 years. 

“The institutions receiving the 2026 Community Engagement Classification exemplify American higher education’s commitment to the greater good,” says Ted Mitchell, ACE President. “The beneficiaries of this unflagging dedication to public purpose missions are their students, their teaching and research enterprises, and their wider communities.” 

“USI’s Community Engagement Classification was earned through deliberate collaboration among staff, faculty, students and community partners who share aligned missions and strategies to promote the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources,” says Dr. Monica O’Neil, Director of Service Learning and Carnegie application process co-lead. “This collaboration enriches scholarship and culture, enhances education and workforce development and addresses societal issues for the public good.” 

In the 2026 cycle, USI joins a pool of 237 institutions that earned the CE Classification, bringing the total to 277 institutions holding the designation. A list of all institutions currently holding the classification endorsement is available on the Carnegie Classification website. 

“The spirit of collaboration in the Tri-state region has been evident since USI’s founding by community leaders and is reflected in the motto, education by the people, education for the people, on the University Seal,” says Dawn Stoneking, Executive Director for Outreach and Engagement and Carnegie application process co-lead. “These words are a fundamental and valued part of our institutional culture and identity. We take pride in the impact we have made through our community partnerships and reaffirm our commitment to exemplary community engagement practices. These include providing outstanding experiential learning opportunities for students, leveraging community assets and addressing challenges to cultivate a vibrant and actively engaged community." 

To learn more about the classification, visit USI.edu/institutional-analytics/carnegie.