The American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching听have听announced听the institutions听that earned听the听Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement for 2026,听and Vanderbilt University is among them. This听is听Vanderbilt鈥檚 first time receiving the听classification.听
This designation honors institutions that are deeply committed to working alongside their communities. It recognizes colleges and universities that build strong, mutually beneficial partnerships; connect community engagement to teaching and learning; and apply their knowledge and resources to help address real-world challenges.听
鈥淐lose collaboration with our community is indispensable to our success as a university,鈥� Chancellor Daniel听Diermeier听said.听鈥淗igh-profile efforts like the听听or our planning for听an听innovation neighborhood听might get the most attention. But the Carnegie Foundation鈥檚 recognition听shows听that community engagement happens in countless ways throughout our听university and informs much of our work. This is true in Nashville, and it will underpin success in our听new听campuses听as well.鈥濃��听
National recognition
The Carnegie Elective Community Engagement Classification is widely known as the national standard for best practices in community-engaged research and learning. The classification informs how policymakers, granting agencies, foundations and researchers evaluate institutions. 听
Vanderbilt joins a cohort of 237 institutions in the 2026 cycle, a group acknowledged for advancing mutually beneficial partnerships, leveraging community assets and addressing societal challenges. 听
About the process
The classification follows an intensive, evidence-based self-study that is assessed by a national review committee.听The听 led Vanderbilt鈥檚 self-study with broad input and significant contributions from faculty, staff, students and community partners. The review highlighted radical collaborations in education, arts and culture, STEM pathways, and health and mobility, among other areas.听
The effort was supported by听the听 and highlighted established partnerships and programs like ,听听and the听.听These programs听are听just a few of the many initiatives underway across the university.听
Real-world听impact
This recognition听reaffirms听Vanderbilt鈥檚听long-standing听commitment to听working alongside听the community. Through听research, educational programs and outreach efforts, Vanderbilt听translates听scholarship into meaningful action across Nashville and beyond.听
鈥淥ur approach to community engagement is grounded in making a lasting positive impact,鈥� said Nathan Green, vice chancellor for government and community relations. 鈥淭his recognition reflects the collective efforts of our faculty, staff, students and community partners who work together to turn Vanderbilt鈥檚 expertise into a real, measurable difference across our city and region.鈥�听
Moving forward
The听Get Connected听volunteer platform, launched in fall 2025,听makes听it easier for students, faculty and staff to serve across Nashville. The platform helps connect campus talent and resources with community-identified priorities, which听expands听opportunities for听measurable听local听impact.听
The Vanderbilt Community Relations team听consistently听supports听campus-community collaborations and partnerships through the Community Engagement Collaborative, the听听and听external听partnership facilitation.听
As Vanderbilt celebrates its first Carnegie Community Engagement Elective Classification, the university will continue to build and deepen collaborations that reflect shared goals, align missions and deliver lasting outcomes with the communities it serves.听
