UNC Pembroke is among 40 universities and colleges nationwide to receive the prestigious 2024 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification.

Awarded by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, the designation highlights an institution’s commitment to community engagement. UNCP earned the award during previous classification cycles in 2008 and 2015.

“The reclassification holds profound significance for UNCP as it elevates our standing as an institution deeply committed to community engagement. Carnegie’s recognition is not merely a label, but a validation of the transformative impact UNCP has on the communities we serve,” said Sandy Jacobs, director of Community and Civic Engagement, in a press release. 

The classification has been the leading framework for institutional assessment and recognition of community engagement in U.S. higher education since 2006.

“This classification not only signifies our commitment to creating meaningful relationships with our community but to the positive impacts we’ve been able to make in the lives of others as a result of those relationships,” said Dr. Christie Poteet, assistant vice chancellor for Student Affairs, in a press release.

The recognition stems from the UNCP’s commitment to service as demonstrated through institutional-wide initiatives, academic service-learning and community-based projects often facilitated by the Office for Community and Civic Engagement in collaboration with the university’s more than 150 community partners. Through these initiatives, 2,098 student volunteers have contributed 21,759 volunteer hours equating to an estimated in-kind donation of more than $68,000 to our community. 

The award was a result of a combined campus-wide effort of several faculty and staff including Poteet, Jacobs, Dr. Scott Hicks, director of the Teaching and Learning Center and Evan Long, associate director for Service Learning.

“UNCP has established strong and enduring partnerships with local organizations, businesses and community leaders. These collaborations go beyond traditional academic boundaries, creating mutually beneficial relationships that address community needs and provide our students with enriching experiences,” Jacobs added in a press release.