The designation recognizes the University’s institutional commitment and excellence to community engagement.
The University of Rochester has again earned the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement from the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, recognizing the University’s institutional commitment and excellence in community engagement. URochester first received this national distinction in 2020.
The Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement is the leading framework for institutional assessment and recognition of community engagement in US higher education. To receive the 2026 classification, URochester demonstrated excellent alignment among campus mission, culture, leadership, resources, and practices that support dynamic and noteworthy community engagement and community-engaged learning.
“I am extremely proud of the work we are doing to deepen engagement with the city of Rochester and within our region to improve the well-being and upward mobility of individuals and address urgent and persistent challenges in our community,” says University President Sarah Mangelsdorf. “There is much to celebrate, and it is heartening to receive this community-building distinction. In the spirit of Meliora, I am confident that we will grow even more in our efforts to improve lives with our programs and partnerships.”
As a leading research institution with expertise in health care, education, the arts, and public health, among other areas, URochester faculty, staff, and students are partnering with local agencies and organizations to alleviate urgent community needs, enrich lives through arts and music, and develop new initiatives that are improving our region and the city of Rochester in many ways. The community also enriches the lives of University students by providing real-word environments and lived expertise to enhance the educational experiences. As represented in the Boundless Possibility: 2030 Strategic Plan, the University’s increased attention and focus on community partnerships has supported a more systematic approach to these initiatives.
New and noteworthy
In July 2023, Mangelsdorf appointed Shaun Nelms as vice president for community partnerships, a recommendation that emerged from the 2019 Carnegie application to deepen the University’s local and national engagement. Nelms is a respected leader in the Rochester community who is recognized for directing the transformation of East High School as its superintendent through the Educational Partnership Organization. Today, Nelms leads URochester’s efforts in community-based research, strategic partnerships, and urban education initiatives, as well as helps connect the various departments and centers that play a pivotal role in engaging the communities beyond campus. In fall 2023, he launched the health and wellness program “Check Your Health,” a collaboration between URochester and WDKX Radio. On the program, Nelms and his guests delve into an array of health topics, with each episode offering guidance on community health questions and connections to local resources.
Also noteworthy since the University’s last Carnegie application: The Center for Community Engagement (CCE) was rebranded from its former name, the Rochester Center for Community Leadership. This change reflects its redefined focus on fostering collaborative leadership among students, faculty, staff, and community partners to discover transformative solutions and create equitable social change in the Rochester community and beyond.
Among its community engagement efforts, CCE today offers course development grants to help faculty members design and implement classes taught in partnership with non-academic community organizations. These grants provide up to $10,000 to support faculty and their departments in designing a new community-engaged course or redesigning an existing course for undergraduate students. Since 2020, the center has awarded eight course development grants and convenes grant recipients regularly to form a community of practice to support them in their work.
Improving lives through community partnerships
One University community partnership that has been created since the last Carnegie designation is the UR Medicine Food Pantry. In collaboration with local partner Foodlink, the health and wellness program was successfully piloted in 2021 to address food insecurity by providing emergency food assistance to UR Medicine patients, starting with those at Strong Memorial Hospital. Patients are screened for markers of food insecurity during their hospital visit, and those in need receive bags of nutritious, shelf-stable foods intended to support them and their families for three days. Social workers, who follow up with the patients after their visit, can then refer them to additional resources and services provided by Foodlink and other community organizations. Over the last three years, UR Medicine Food Pantry has expanded its reach to two affiliate hospitals and nine high-need outpatient clinics. Since the program’s launch in May 2021, it has provided a critical food supply to patients and their households more than 3,000 times.
One established community model that is going into its 30th year is the Eastman Pathways Program. Offered through the Eastman Community Music School (ECMS), the program provides tuition-free access to music education and instrument instruction to talented, economically challenged Rochester City School District students. In addition to giving RCSD students expert attention, Eastman Pathways also provides the opportunity for ECMS faculty (including Eastman School graduate students who serve as interns) to gain skills necessary for teaching students in an urban setting.
Overall, URochester is one of only 277 institutions nationwide to meet the strict criteria for the 2026 Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement. This classification is valid until 2032. According to the recently released Economic Engine and Community Catalyst report, the University invests nearly $535,000 annually in local partners to support economic, workforce, and community-building activities, as well as more than $2 million in community health improvement services. Such investments exemplify how the University leverages its position as a major employer and healthcare provider to strengthen the broader community through targeted programs that address housing, economic development, and public health initiatives.
