Carnegie Community Engagement Classification
In 2010 and 2020, The University of Texas at El Paso was recognized with the Carnegie Foundation’s Classification for Community Engagement. The Community Engagement Classification is voluntary and evidence-based, requiring institutional self-assessment followed by a national review to validate the full extent of community engagement demonstrated in the institution’s mission, identity, and commitments. It involves data collection and documentation of important aspects of UTEP’s community engagement mission, identity, and commitments.
The Community Engagement Classification recognizes UTEP’s positive impact on the economy and well-being of the community we serve. UTEP is one of only 73 top-tier research universities in the U.S. that are also strong on community engagement. The Carnegie Foundation specifically noted UTEP’s excellent alignment of engagement among the campus leadership, culture, resources, curricular practices and accreditation objectives. At the time of the application, 43% of UTEP’s sponsored-projects portfolio directly impacted the Paso del Norte community; UTEP’s faculty taught over 480 community-engaged courses during the 2017-18 academic year; and more than 15,000 students engaged in the community through their academic courses or through service projects with community partners.
Academic Year 2022-2023 Data
6,894Students in Service Learning Courses |
740, 000Community Engaged Hours |
235Engaged Faculty |
7,365Students Contributing to Community Service |
$22 MillionEconomic Impact (Independent Sector) |
335Community Engaged Classes |
2026 Carnegie Reclassification
UTEP’s Community Engagement Classification is valid until 2026, at which time UTEP will have to reapply to retain its status. UTEP is one of only 119 institutions nationwide that achieved this premier distinction in the 2020 cycle.
For more information on the 2026 Carnegie Foundation’s Classification for Community Engagement, visit the classification website.
Community Engagement Definition
Community engagement describes the collaboration between higher education institutions 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 (Carnegie Foundation, 2012).
At UTEP, collaboration contributes to its goal of achieving National Research University status through institution-wide engaged and integrated research, teaching, and service. In addition, partnerships are developed, deployed, and evaluated with substantial participation from all involved parties (Provost's Task Force on Community Engagement, 2012).
For a listing of basic community engagement models, definitions, and benefits, click here.
Academic-Based Community Engagement Definition
Definition: Structured community-based or service activities for academic learning purposes.
Examples include:
- Projects in collaboration with community partners
- Student community-based research
- Community-based internships, clinical, fieldwork, student teaching
- Planning and implementation of service-learning activity
- Design, consultation, or creation of a community product or tool
- Pro bono services performed by graduate and professional students (e.g. consulting) in connection with a course or academic objective
Definition: Community service primarily focuses on service to the community, without a structured academic component.
Examples include:
- One-day or volunteer service projects
- Community presentations, performances, exhibitions done for the purpose of service.
- Community-based internships, not related to academic courses.
- Other activities in connection with grants classified as “Service grants” (that are otherwise not counted in the section above)
- Projects completed through federal community work-study students.
