UNC Charlotte seeks reaffirmation of Community Engagement Classification from Carnegie Foundation

UNC Charlotte is seeking reaffirmation of its community engagement classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. urbanCORE, the hub of the University’s engaged scholarship ecosystem, is leading the reaffirmation process.

UNC Charlotte earned its original classification in 2008, and it was reaffirmed in 2015. Currently, 368 institutions have received the Carnegie community engagement classification, 18 of those institutions are in North Carolina.

Colleges and universities with an institutional focus on community engagement are invited to apply for the classification, which is an “elective” process, unlike the Carnegie Foundation’s other classifications that rely on national data. To receive community engagement classification, institutions voluntarily submit required materials that describe the nature and extent of their engagement with the community, be it local or beyond.

As part of the reaffirmation process, the University will outline how it continues to integrate community engagement into the overall day-to-day programming of the institution. Additionally, all of the community engaged work happening on campus will be considered and counted in the application. urbanCORE will be seeking input from faculty and staff over the next year as they complete the application process, which is due on April 1, 2025.

What is community engagement?

Community engagement is 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.

UNC Charlotte’s 10-year strategic plan, “Shaping What’s Next,” emphasizes the importance of community engagement and identifies it as an essential part of an urban research university. Through ongoing volunteerism, internships with local nonprofits, grant projects with community partners, service-learning courses, impactful research initiatives and more, UNC Charlotte is preparing students to be engaged and effective citizens, while producing transformative solutions to societal issues and challenges.

Participate in these workshops sponsored by urbanCORE

Launch of the Charlotte Carnegie Application
1 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 20
Sycamore Hall, Room 306 or via Zoom
Learn how you can contribute to the University’s community engagement efforts.

Publishing in Community Engagement
10 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 28
Sycamore Hall, Room 306
Learn to identify a journal for publication, document your work for reappointment, promotion and tenure, and make a plan at this hands-on workshop.