Renewing a Defining Commitment to Community Engagement

I cannot think of a better way to start the new year than to share news that once again, IU Indianapolis has been selected for the 2026 Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. This Carnegie Community Engagement Classification is valid through 2032.

This classification is about connecting the work we do at IU Indianapolis to the public good. As noted on their website,

The purpose of community engagement is the partnership of college and university knowledge and resources with those of the public and private sectors to enrich scholarship, research, and creative activity; enhance curriculum, teaching, and learning; prepare educated, engaged citizens; strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility; address critical societal issues; and contribute to the public good.

It is noteworthy that this recognition is not new to us and reflects a long and proud history of Carnegie recognition at IU Indianapolis. For decades, IU Indianapolis has been shaped by its place and purpose. We are a university anchored in our city and grounded in the belief that higher education must serve the communities that gave birth to us. The work we do comes to life through its impact on our community. Our faculty, staff, students, and community partners have consistently worked side by side to address real-world challenges, build on community strengths, and create impact that matters across the city, state, and beyond.

In this cycle, we are one of 277 institutions nationwide to receive this distinction. In their review, the Carnegie Foundation highlighted the strong alignment across our mission, leadership, resources, and institutional practices, noting how community engagement is fully integrated into how we teach, learn, discover, and serve. The application reflected institutionalized practices that are intentional, strategic, and sustained, and our work stood out for its clarity, depth, and distinction.  In their letter informing us of the recognition, they note:

Your institution’s application documented excellent alignment among campus mission, culture, leadership, resources, and practices that support dynamic and noteworthy community engagement. It responded to the classification framework with both descriptions and examples of exemplary institutionalized practices of community engagement.

Community engagement is deeply woven into our mission, our culture, and our identity.  At IU Indianapolis, community engagement is more than a goal; it is a defining commitment.

I want to thank the many individuals, both past and present, whose hard work and dedication made this possible. This recognition belongs equally to our community partners, whose trust and collaboration are foundational to the work we do; to our faculty and staff, who bring community engagement into everything we do; and, of course, to our students, who carry these values forward into the world.

Welcome to 2026,

Latha Ramchand
Chancellor