The Carnegie Community Engagement Classification remains the gold standard for recognizing colleges and universities that demonstrate a deep, institutionalized commitment to community engagement. Receiving this classification signals that engagement is not peripheral, it is embedded in an institution’s mission, structures, partnerships, and culture.
We are proud to celebrate the Collaboratory institutions that received the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. Each of these campuses is advancing meaningful, reciprocal partnerships with communities, and doing the rigorous work required to document, understand, and communicate that impact.
About the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification
Administered by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education, the Community Engagement Classification is a voluntary, evidence-based designation. Institutions must demonstrate how community engagement is defined, supported, assessed, and continuously improved across the institution. The process emphasizes alignment between mission and practice, depth of partnerships, and the use of data to tell a credible story of impact.
You can view the full list of institutions recognized in the 2026 cycle HERE.
Collaboratory Institutions Recognized in 2026
We are honored to work alongside the following Collaboratory institutions that received the 2026 classification or reclassification.
Arizona State University
California State University, Chico
California State University, Northridge
DePaul University
Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University Southeast
Indiana University Indianapolis
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Montclair State University
North Carolina State University
Rutgers University – New Brunswick
Rutgers University – Newark
University of Akron
University of California, Los Angeles
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Maryland, Baltimore
University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
University of Michigan – Dearborn
University of Rochester
University of Washington Tacoma
Virginia Commonwealth University
Data as the Foundation for Credible Community Engagement
The classification underscores a fundamental truth: strong engagement narratives must be grounded in strong, institution-wide data. Demonstrating mission alignment, partnership depth, and sustained impact requires more than anecdotes. It requires evidence that is consistent, credible, and actionable.
Collaboratory supports this work by providing a centralized, institutional-level system for capturing and analyzing engagement data at scale. Rather than focusing on individual hour tracking or siloed tools, Collaboratory enables campuses to see the full landscape of engagement across units, partnerships, and priorities. We are proud to partner with institutions that place community engagement at the core of their mission and use data intentionally to strengthen partnerships, demonstrate impact, and advance institutional goals.
Learn How Collaboratory Can Support Your Campus
If your institution is preparing for a future Carnegie classification, or simply looking to strengthen how you collect and use engagement data, we invite you to learn more. Book a demo today!
