Carnegie Community Engagement Classification
Recognizing our institutional commitment to the land-grant mission
NC State is a public land-grant university with a rich history of serving our state through research and scholarship, teaching and learning, and outreach and engagement. Our commitment to this university-wide mission of service to our communities has been recognized continuously since 2005 by the Carnegie Foundation with certification as a community engaged institution.Â
In 2025 the Office of Outreach and Engagement submitted an application for reclassification as a community engaged institution. We are thrilled to share that NC State has once again been recognized with the Carnegie Foundation Community Engagement Reclassification! This honor recognizes our long-standing institutional commitment to fostering mutually beneficial partnerships with our communities locally, regionally and globally.
What is the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement?
The Carnegie Foundation’s Classification for Community Engagement is a framework for recognizing institutional commitment to community engagement and community-engaged scholarship. It is the most rigorous evaluation of community engagement available in higher education.
Earning this elective classification requires a comprehensive, evidence-based self-study documenting institutional practices and policies that demonstrate a commitment to community engagement. The self-study process, in turn, clarifies areas in which the institution can deepen its commitment to continuous improvement.
The Carnegie Foundation defines community engagement as the collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity.
2026 Carnegie Reclassification Process
NC State first achieved classification as a community engaged institution in 2005, with the added distinction of being in the very first cohort of institutions to be awarded. Since then, NC State was awarded reclassification in 2010 and again in 2014.
With each successful reclassification, we committed to the ongoing project of collaborating with our local communities for the greatest possible impact in the state of North Carolina.
In our 2026 application for Carnegie Community Engagement reclassification, we described how our commitment to the land-grant mission of engaging with local, regional and global communities has strengthened in the decade since our last classification.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our many partners across the University, including representatives from every College, who contributed time and expertise during the data collection process.
We are particularly indebted to our Carnegie Reclassification Task Force members:
2026 Carnegie Reclassification Task Force
Helen Chen, Senior Vice Provost for Instructional Programs
Office of Instructional Programs
Sarah Ann Craven, Director of Special Projects and Planning
College of Veterinary Medicine
Genevieve Garland, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor of Research Development and Operations and Chief of Staff
Office of Research and Innovation
David Goldsmith, Associate Director for Collections & Research Services
Libraries
Sarah Langer Hall, Director
Institute for Emerging Issues
Michelle Kurtz, Director
Student Leadership and Engagement
Marissa Langford, Assistant Dean for College Operations
College of Engineering
Crystal Chen Lee, Associate Professor and Senior Advisor for Strategic Excellence
College of Education
Li Marcus, Director
Office of Undergraduate Courses, Curricula and Academic Standards
Stephanie Money, Chief of Staff and Director of Advancement
Advancement
David Monks, Associate Dean and Director of Extension
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Stacy Nelson, Professor and Associate Dean
College of Natural resources
Laura Nelson, Associate Vice Provost of Academic Personnel and Policy
Office of Faculty Excellence
Scott O’Leary, Project Manager
Continuing and Lifelong Education
Janice Odom, Director
Caldwell Fellows
Jason Painter, Director, Science House
College of Sciences
Celen Pasalar, Associate Professor and Extension Coordintor
College of Design
Donna Petherbridge, Vice Provost
DELTA
Catherine Phillips, Director of Operations, Analysis and Planning
Office of Finance and Administration
Mary Cole Pike, Executive Director of Communications
University Communications and Marketing
Amy Sawyers-Williams, Executive Director
Arts NC State
Mark Schmidt, Associate Vice Chancellor
External Affairs, Partnerships and Economic Development
Sherri Schwab, Vice Provost
Office of Equal Opportunity
Bailey Smith, Extension Coordinator
Wilson College of Textiles
Rhonda Sutton, Assistant Dean for Professional Development
The Graduate School
Lorraine Taylor, Executive Director for Extension & Engagement
CHASS
Maggie Thompson, Communications Specialist
Chancellor’s Office
Courtney Thornton, Associate Vice Provost for Strategy, Implementation and Communication
Institutional Strategy and Analysis
Richard Warr, Associate Dean
Poole College of Management
Why is the Carnegie Classification important?
Fulfilling our land-grant mission: As a land-grant institution with a mission to partner with our communities for the greater good, NC State is deeply committed to fostering meaningful engagement opportunities locally, regionally and globally. Continued reclassification and the process by which we earn it recognizes this commitment and helps us identify opportunities for improvement.
Celebrating successes, identifying areas for improvement: The designation is a voluntary effort that involves extensive, monthslong data collection and detailed documentation of key aspects of our mission, our commitment to the broader community and stakeholders, and our support of community-engaged teaching, research and outreach among faculty, staff, students and community partners.
Elevating our communities: Community engagement requires processes in which academics recognize, respect and value the knowledge, perspectives, and resources of community partners that are designed to serve a public purpose, building the capacity of individuals, groups and organizations involved to understand and collaboratively address issues of public concern.