The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has been awarded the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, a national distinction that recognizes higher education institutions demonstrating an extraordinary commitment to community engagement.
Illinois previously received this recognition in 2008 and 2015, underscoring a sustained, long-term commitment to public engagement.
“It is both our responsibility and our privilege to work with communities locally and throughout the state to improve lives, broaden access to education, and expand economic opportunity,” Chancellor Charles L. Isbell, Jr. said. “This designation affirms the transformative impact of our partnerships and underscores that our public service mission is central to who we are.”
“As a land-grant university Illinois remains committed to putting knowledge, training, and readiness into the hands of citizens while engaging with and learning from communities from the local to the global,” Provost John Coleman said. “Community engagement is embedded across our academic mission, connecting faculty expertise with communities to define and address societal challenges and inspiring and training students to change the future.”
“This recognition affirms the deep integration of community engagement across our mission, culture, and practices,” said Wanda E. Ward, Executive Associate Chancellor for Public Engagement. “It reflects the collective work of faculty, staff, students, and community partners who are advancing reciprocal, mutually beneficial partnerships that address critical 21st century societal challenges.”
Illinois’ application documented how community engagement is embedded across teaching, research, service, and operations, and how this work is strengthened through authentic collaboration with local, regional, national, and global partners. Led by the Office of Public Engagement, the effort involved extensive collaboration across colleges, departments, centers, and administrative units and was supported by campuswide engagement structures, including the Coordinating Council for Public Engagement.
As a campuswide research institute focused specifically on health, the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute (IHSI) supports community-engaged research and builds partnerships with community organizations to ensure research is inclusive and responsive to real-world needs, and that scientific discoveries and innovations are designed with and for those who will ultimately benefit. IHSI has a growing network of community-based affiliates to foster continuous communication and engagement. IHSI's Community-Academic Scholars program, as well as the Community Seminar Series, a partnership between IHSI and Illinois Extension, were both featured as part of Illinois' application.
The classification is conferred by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The 2026 classification process reflects activities from the 2023–2024 academic year and is valid through 2032. The Carnegie Community Engagement Classification is the leading framework for assessing and recognizing institutional engagement in U.S. higher education. In the 2026 cycle, 237 colleges and universities nationwide earned the designation, joining a total of 277 institutions currently holding the classification. More information about the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification is available online.