Carnegie Community Engagement Reclassification on track for spring submission
Since 2006, the university has been recognized as a Carnegie Foundation Community Engaged University.
September 26, 2024
As Virginia Tech pursues reclassification as a Carnegie Foundation Community Engaged University, the Carnegie reclassification workgroup is making steady progress toward submission on April 1, 2025.
The application has been divided into sections, with subgroups tasked with answering specific questions and crafting the narratives required. This collaborative approach allows the team to gather a comprehensive understanding of the university’s community engagement work.
A key challenge of the application is identifying and cataloging the many service courses offered across Virginia Tech. These courses, which combine academic learning with community engagement, are essential to demonstrating the university's commitment to fostering engaged citizenship among our students.
"We are incredibly proud of the collaborative effort across the university as we work toward Carnegie reclassification," said Susan E. Short, associate vice president for engagement. “This process not only highlights the powerful community partnerships we’ve built, but also challenges us to deepen our understanding of how we engage our students and faculty in meaningful, service-driven experiences."
In addition, the application requires identifying 10-15 standout projects from across the university that demonstrate our commitment to community partnership. To capture a wide array of initiatives, the team recently distributed a survey seeking input from faculty, staff, and partners throughout Virginia Tech. This feedback will help showcase the diversity and impact of our engagement efforts.
The classification is voluntary and involves data collection and documentation of important aspects of institutional mission. Selection is based on the alignment of the university’s mission, culture, leadership, resources, and practices in such a way that promotes community engagement among faculty, staff, and students.
Since 2006, the university has been recognized as a Carnegie Foundation Community Engaged University. Of the more than 4,000 universities in the country, Virginia Tech is one of only 80 that can claim that distinction as well as the Carnegie system’s elite “R1” research status.
The Community Engaged University designation recognizes “collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities — local, state, national, global — for the mutually beneficial creation and exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity.”