header-logo
Students Classroom

Carnegie Community Engagement Re-Classification

An elective classification that provides an independent and rigorous assessment of MCW’s commitment and excellence in community engagement.

What is Community Engagement?

The MCW OCE utilizes the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching's definition:

Community Engagement is the collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional, state, national, global) for mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity."

About the Classification

The Carnegie Community Engagement Classification is an elective classification that recognizes academic institutions for a deep commitment to community engagement and provides an independent and rigorous assessment of an institution’s commitment and excellence in community engagement. The classification acknowledges universities that excel in fostering meaningful, sustained partnerships with communities, emphasizing mutual benefit and reciprocity.

learn more about the classification

History of Carnegie at MCW

  • MCW is one of only five medical schools in the U.S. that has received this prestigious recognition, illustrating MCW’s dedication to community engagement, one of its four missions.
  • MCW was originally classified in 2015 and is currently applying for re-classification in 2026.
  • The Office of Community Engagement, led by Staci Young, PhD, senior associate dean for community engagement, is facilitating the institutional application.

Rationale

  • Institutional Identity - distinguishes the institution from peers.
  • Institutional Self-assessment and Self-study - can serve as a catalyst for change.
  • Advances a unified agenda and identifies promising practices that can be shared across the institution.
  • Accountability for excellence in community engagement.
  • Demonstrates that the institution is fulfilling its mission to serve the public good.
  • Fosters institutional alignment for community-based teaching, learning, and scholarship or interdisciplinary leadership development.

Application Process

  • The classification evaluates three main aspects of MCW’s community engagement efforts:
    • Depth of community engagement systems and relationships.
    • Pervasiveness of community engagement throughout the institution.
    • Integration of community engagement as a core value and strategic mission.
  • Application deadline: April 1, 2025
  • Notification of classification: December 2025
  • Public announcement for designated campuses: January 2026

More Information

Learn more about key areas of the application and provide input on how you have been involved with community engagement at MCW.
all
Sections of the Application

Campus, Community, and Community Engagement Context
At its core, the community engagement (CE) approach is unique to each institution and community partner. This section of the application allows MCW to broadly showcase how CE is prioritized and represented internally at the institution and externally in collaboration with community partners. Reviewers will read about the history of CE at MCW and how this has evolved and strengthened over the years. The institutional commitment to CE is also examined – specifically how it will be maintained longitudinally through budget, personnel capacity, and general infrastructure. Beyond the internal CE priorities, MCW will also detail how it fosters relationships with community partners and demonstrate how principles of reciprocity and mutual benefit are prioritized so that community partners have a significant voice.

Institutional Identity and Culture
This section explores how CE is reflected in MCW’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities. At MCW, CE is embedded in the institutional identity and influences many facets – from research to patient care to education. This section seeks evidence of leadership commitment to CE via a letter from executive leadership and examples of leadership support for CE in speeches, interviews, published editorials, and more.

Quality of Community Engagement Relationships and Academic Partnerships
Showcasing the value and importance of fostering mutually beneficial and reciprocal community-academic relationships is essential for the Carnegie Community Engagement Re-Classification. A workgroup will delve into this section by reflecting on the various partnerships built between MCW and the community and how community-engaged practices have sustained, nurtured, and strengthened these relationships. Successful examples of both long-standing and new partnerships will be highlighted.

Faculty and Staff
The Carnegie Community Engagement Re-Classification also requires an examination of the role of faculty and staff in sustained community-engaged practice. A workgroup committed to this section will compile and highlight institutional support for faculty and staff involvement in community-engaged activities and evidence of professional development opportunities and recognition of these activities. Additionally, the faculty/staff workgroup will seek to showcase cross-departmental collaboration and interdisciplinary community engagement efforts. By highlighting work being done across the institution, MCW will show how learning, improvement, and development are prioritized year after year.

Curricular Engagement
At MCW, community engagement is deeply woven into the academic fabric of the institution and curriculum. This section seeks to highlight the educational value of community-based learning and how MCW prepares students to be community-engaged practitioners. The Curricular Engagement section will demonstrate how curricular activities such as coursework, service-learning, and continuing medical education (CME) opportunities are directly tied to community engagement. The impact of various curricular CE activities will be evaluated through curriculum design and student learning outcomes.

Co-Curricular Engagement
Community Engagement is fostered in many capacities at MCW, including opportunities beyond the formal academic curriculum. In this section, student-led organizations and interest groups will be highlighted, including how faculty and staff can participate in these activities alongside students. These co-curricular activities not only enhance the student experience but underscore the role of community engagement in many dimensions.

Civic Learning and Life
The Carnegie application stresses the importance of promoting civic learning and responsibility as a core tenant of the student experience. This section highlights how MCW integrates civic learning into both student activities and the broader institutional culture. It will examine how MCW supports different programs, initiatives, and resources that contribute to civic knowledge and skills across the campus community.

Community Engagement and Other Institutional Initiatives
The application closes with a final section dedicated to illuminating how community engagement is aligned with the broader goals and strategic directions of the institution. Unique programs, institutes, and initiatives specific to MCW will be highlighted as strategies that complement and enhance community engagement efforts throughout the institution. Ultimately, this section illustrates how community engagement is not only a priority, but is deeply embedded in MCW’s institutional identity.

carnegie application framework (PDF)

How to Provide Input

The application process will engage internal and external stakeholders during the self-study process. To guide the direction of the application, the Office of Community Engagement welcomes input to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive representation of our community engagement efforts. If you have input to contribute to one of the sections or in general, please email Sarah O'Connor, OCE program director, or provide your recommendations via the appropriate survey below:

Questions or Input? Sarah O'Connor, spoconnor@mcw.edu


Connect with Us

There's more than one way to connect with us - join our email list for program news and event updates, or keep up with us on our socials!

Community Engagement Requests

submit CE request