Rutgers–Camden Receives Eminent Community Engagement Recognition
Rutgers University in Camden is among 40 U.S. colleges and universities that have received the 2024 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. Civic and community engagement are at the core of Rutgers–Camden’s commitment to giving back to city, state, and regional communities that partner with the university in making a difference in the lives of those who need it most.
“Congratulations to all who have contributed to this success,” said Chancellor Antonio D. Tillis. “The leadership of Nyeema Watson, our senior vice chancellor for strategy, diversity and community engagement, drives our efforts to build an inclusive campus while connecting the resources of the university with communities in Camden, South Jersey, and beyond.”
The Carnegie Community Engagement Classification is an elective designation awarded by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching that highlights commitment to community engagement.
“We recognize these institutions for their exceptional commitment to community engagement and their work to transform knowledge into meaningful action,” said Timothy Knowles, president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. “They exemplify the true spirit of the Carnegie endorsement and the power of serving the public good.”
The Carnegie Community Engagement Classification is awarded following a process of self-study by each institution. The classifications have been acknowledged as the leading framework for institutional assessment and recognition of community engagement in U.S. higher education for almost 20 years.
Among the 2024 recipients of the classification, 25 are public institutions and 15 are private. Nine, including Rutgers–Camden, are Minority Serving Institutions. Rutgers–Camden was first awarded the Community Engagement Classification in 2015.
"This achievement shows how deeply we have embedded civic and community engagement throughout all facets of our campus,” Senior Vice Chancellor Watson said. “This approach makes Rutgers University in Camden one of the leading higher education institutions that values the intersection of diversity, equity, inclusion, and community engagement.”
The Carnegie Classifications are the leading framework for categorizing and describing colleges and universities in the United States. Utilized frequently by policymakers, funders, and researchers, the classifications are a critical benchmarking tool for postsecondary institutions. They strive to reflect the diversity of postsecondary institutions and to more completely characterize the impact higher education institutions have in society.
