- January 14, 2026
- By Maryland Today Staff
The University of Maryland has earned one of the nation’s highest recognitions for institutional excellence in community-engaged teaching, research and service.
The 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement (CE) Classification is the leading national framework for recognizing how higher education institutions partner with communities to create meaningful, mutually beneficial impact. A total of 277 institutions currently hold the designation from the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
“This accomplishment carries great significance because of what it represents: advancing our Fearlessly Forward strategic plan commitment to partner to advance the public good,” said Jennifer King Rice, UMD’s senior vice president and provost. “Earning this classification affirms what we know to be true here at UMD—community engagement is central to the values and identity of our institution, and fundamental to fulfilling our mission as the state’s flagship institution and a public, land-grant university.”
Building upon decades of community engagement work, in 2023, UMD announced plans to launch the Center for Community Engagement to serve as a hub to support existing community engagement activities and cultivate new opportunities for community-engaged scholarship, instruction and service. With the creation of the center came the appointment of UMD’s inaugural associate provost for community engagement, Tania D. Mitchell, who led the institution-wide self-study required to earn the CE classification.
“This designation recognizes the deep alignment between UMD’s mission, leadership, culture and resources, as well as the ways community engagement is integrated into our curriculum, research and institutional practices,” Mitchell said. “At its core, this work is about sustaining partnerships grounded in reciprocity, equity and democratic values.”
UMD’s community engagement work includes longstanding partnerships across Prince George’s County, the state of Maryland and beyond that connect university expertise to community-identified priorities. For example, faculty and students work alongside K-12 schools to strengthen STEM education and improve youth mental health, collaborate with public health organizations and community leaders to address health disparities and food insecurity, and partner with local governments and nonprofits on issues such as environmental restoration, workforce development and civic participation. For over 10 years, the university has hosted its annual Good Neighbor Day, which engages hundreds of volunteers in dozens of local service projects organized by UMD, the city of College Park and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County.
UMD students also participate in community-engaged learning experiences that apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges, from conducting data analysis for community organizations to supporting neighborhood-based initiatives through internships, research and capstone projects.
Timothy F.C. Knowles, president of the Carnegie Foundation, said that colleges and universities receiving the 2026 Community Engagement Classification not only fuel science and innovation, they build prosperity in rural, urban and suburban communities nationwide.
“We celebrate each of these institutions, particularly their dedication to partnering with their neighbors — fostering civic engagement, building usable knowledge, and catalyzing real world learning experiences for students,” he said.