The University of Indianapolis was recently recognized by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching with the 2026 Community Engagement (CE) Classification. UIndy is one of just 80 private colleges and universities to achieve the CE designation in the 2026 cohort. The Carnegie Classifications are widely regarded as one of the most important benchmarking tools in higher education, often used by policymakers, funders, and researchers. The CE classification is based on three core pillars : meaningful community engagement activities, measurable impact, and intentional self-reflection. UIndy’s classification remains valid through 2032. ACTIVITIES: Community engagement is embedded into more than 300 classes at the University. Whether it’s nursing students running a vaccination clinic, engineering students designing real-world solutions through DesignSpine , physical therapy students developing a health fair for older adults at the local YMCA, or sport management students running a basketball tournament for Special Olympics Indiana (see p. 40), UIndy students are actively engaging with others and making their community better. Service hours are also a requirement for all Registered Student Organizations on campus.
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We need to remain innovative. We need to remain true to our
mission as an institution. Engaging with our community, our partners and our industries challenges us to think about how to do those things. Higher education is what prepares the next generation of responsible citizens. Training a student on how to use a computer is one thing, but helping them prepare to be good, responsible, and sensitive humans can only happen when you engage with other people, especially people who are different from you. This is the key to truly developing our future engaged, authentic, and ethical citizens that are going to drive and progress our industry forward.”
IMPACT: $8,697,500
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The estimated value of UIndy’s community engagement in 2025—based on 250,000 hours multiplied by $34.79, the estimated national value of a volunteer hour. REFLECTION: Intentionality is required. The CE application requires institutions to demonstrate that community engagement is not unintentional or unplanned, but purpose-driven and aligned to student learning objectives. Through surveys of students, faculty, and community partners, the University measures outcomes and ensures each experience remains meaningful and mutually beneficial.
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— Marianna Foulkrod, Director of the Center for Service-Learning & Community Engagement
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MAGAZINE // SUMMER 2026
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