The University of Georgia (UGA) has been awarded the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, a recognition given by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. This designation is valid for six years and highlights UGA’s ongoing commitment to partnerships that address community needs through teaching, research, and service.
“This prestigious recognition reflects the University of Georgia’s unwavering commitment to serving Georgia as its flagship institution and preparing students to lead in a global society,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “Community engagement is embedded in our land-grant and sea-grant identity, and I am grateful for the continued efforts of our faculty, staff and students as they prioritize the needs of citizens throughout our state and beyond.”
The Carnegie Classification has served as a primary framework for recognizing institutions dedicated to community engagement for over two decades. UGA first received this classification in 2010 and has maintained it since then.
In its recent application, UGA cited several initiatives that demonstrate its approach to community engagement. The Clarke Middle Health Center provides a clinic site where medical, law, and social work students collaborate to improve healthcare access for school district families. Another program highlighted was the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance initiative, which involves student volunteers helping adults in low-income or rural communities with tax preparation while offering financial education resources.
“This honor is a testament to the dedication of our faculty, staff and students who bring our land-grant and sea-grant mission to life every day,” said Benjamin C. Ayers, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “By applying their expertise and energy to collaborative projects, they ensure the University of Georgia remains a vital partner in strengthening communities across our state.”
UGA offers nearly 300 service-learning courses across 60 departments. In academic year 2024-25 alone, more than 9,000 students enrolled in these classes contributed over 400,000 service hours valued at more than $12 million.
Long-term collaborations through Public Service and Outreach units have also played a role in driving economic growth statewide. Since 2020, UGA’s Archway Partnership supported dozens of projects involving hundreds of students from multiple colleges with an estimated return on investment reaching millions for local communities.
“For communities like Hartwell, having a university that prioritizes community engagement is transformative,” said Jason Ford, Hartwell economic and community development director. “We get to witness UGA’s commitment to Georgia firsthand through our work with the Archway Partnership and other Public Service and Outreach departments. What is really exciting is the nature of our partnership. Hartwell gets to provide a living laboratory for students and faculty to work on real-world projects, and UGA brings the talent, research and support that helps us move ideas to action.”
Since 2022, UGA’s Provost’s Office has allocated seed grants totaling $255,000 for rural engagement research projects; recipients have subsequently secured over $13 million in additional funding benefiting rural areas.
“This classification affirms that the University of Georgia exemplifies what it means to serve the public good,” said Stacy Jones, vice president for public service and outreach. “By transforming knowledge into meaningful action, our faculty, staff and students serve the state of Georgia and help address critical challenges in our state and beyond.”
For further details about UGA’s outreach programs visit outreach.uga.edu.
