On January 12, 2026, the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching announced that the University of Southern Indiana (USI) had successfully met the criteria for renewal of the Community Engagement Classification for Community Engagement. USI was first classified in 2008, was reclassified in 2015 and 2026, and is one of only 277 campuses nationwide that hold this designation.
Community Engagement is an elective classification, meaning it is based on voluntary participation by institutions. The elective classification involves each institution conducting a self-study to collect and document key aspects of its mission, identity, and commitments, and requires substantial effort from participating institutions.
This achievement highlights USI's continued dedication to engaging with the campus community and regional partners in the Tri-state area and beyond. It focuses on providing students with real-world learning opportunities, tackling society’s pressing issues, and promoting civic involvement. In its decision notice to USI, ACE and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching said USI's application “documented excellent alignment among campus mission, culture, leadership, resources, and practices that support dynamic and noteworthy community engagement. It responded to the classification framework with both descriptions and examples of exemplary institutionalized practices of community engagement."
The Carnegie Commission on Higher Education developed the classification in 1973 to support its program of research and policy analysis. Derived from empirical data on colleges and universities, the Carnegie Classification was updated in 1976, 1987, 1994, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2018, 2021, and 2025 to reflect changes among colleges and universities.
The Carnegie Classifications are the nation’s leading framework for categorizing and describing colleges and universities in the United States. Utilized frequently by policymakers, funders, and researchers, the Classifications are a critical benchmarking tool for postsecondary institutions.
You can discover more about The Elective Classification for Community Engagement by visiting their website.