Carnegie Foundation Selects St. John Fisher University for 2026 Community Engagement Classification

St. John Fisher University has once again been selected among the more than 230 U.S. colleges and universities that have received the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement (CE) Classification, an elective designation awarded by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching that highlights an institution’s commitment to community engagement.

Fisher is among 13 New York State institutions and three local institutions to have earned the classification.

“Higher education is a vital economic engine for us all. Our colleges and universities not only fuel science and innovation, they build prosperity in rural, urban and suburban communities nationwide. said Timothy F.C. Knowles, president of the Carnegie Foundation. “We celebrate each of these institutions, particularly their dedication to partnering with their neighbors -- fostering civic engagement, building useable knowledge, and catalyzing real world learning experiences for students.”

Since its founding in 1948, Fisher has woven service, citizenship, and community partnership into the fabric of its mission. What began as a Basilian commitment to educating students for lives of purpose has evolved over decades into a robust ecosystem of service learning, scholarship programs, and community based collaborations.

“Service has been a part of Fisher since our founding, and this recognition affirms what has long defined us. Our commitment to the community is not a moment in time — it is a deeply held value that shapes how we teach, how we partner, and how we prepare our students. We are proud to stand alongside the organizations that make this work possible, and equally proud of the students who embrace service as part of who they are. We hope that as they leave Fisher as purposeful leaders, they will carry with them a lasting commitment to service in the communities in which they live and work,” said Fisher President Gerard J. Rooney.

The CE Classification is awarded following a process of self-study by each institution. The classification has been the leading framework for institutional assessment and recognition of community engagement in U.S. higher education for the past 19 years with classification cycles in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2020, 2024, and now 2026. The 2029 cycle will be for first-time applicants.

In the 2026 cycle, 237 institutions earned the CE Classification, joining the 40 institutions classified in 2024 for a total of 277 institutions that currently hold the designation. Of the institutions recognized in 2026, 48 are receiving the classification for the first time, while 189 have previously held it. The 2026 cohort includes a diverse range of institutions, with 157 public institutions, 80 private colleges and universities, and 81 Minority Serving Institutions represented among the recipients.

“Earning the Carnegie Classification for a second time invites us to reflect on how far we have come as an institution. In the six years since Fisher last received this recognition, we established the Institute for Civic and Community Engagement, expanded our mutually beneficial partnerships with a range of community organizations and strengthened the work that has always been central to our mission. The Institute stands on decades of Fisher’s commitment to service, partnership, and civic learning, and earning this recognition once again affirms both the longevity of that commitment and the momentum we carry into the future,” said Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Dr. Kevin Railey.

Fisher’s Institute for Civic and Community Engagement, established in 2018, represents Fisher’s deep commitment to service, serving as a centralized home for some of the University’s most impactful civic initiatives and a catalyst for new partnerships across the region.

The Institute brings together Fisher’s longstanding programs in a way that amplifies their reach and deepens their impact. It houses signature initiatives such as the Fannie & Sam Constantino First-Generation Scholars Program, the Service Scholars Program, and the University’s expanding portfolio of Community Engaged Learning (CEL) courses. These programs collectively engage hundreds of students each year in meaningful service, leadership development, and academic experiences rooted in real world needs.

The Institute also supports the Center for Nonprofit Leadership, which provides professional development, research, and capacity building for the region’s nonprofit sector. This work extends Fisher’s impact beyond campus, positioning the University as a resource for organizations that drive social and economic vitality across the Finger Lakes.

In addition, the Institute works with faculty through community engaged research, service learning pedagogy, and publications that explore the intersections of education and civic life, helping to elevate Fisher’s academic contributions to the national conversation on community engagement.

“The institutions receiving the 2026 Community Engagement Classification exemplify American higher education’s commitment to the greater good,” said ACE President Ted Mitchell. “The beneficiaries of this unflagging dedication to public purpose missions are their students, their teaching and research enterprises, and their wider communities.”

Dr. Wanda Cooper, director of Fisher’s Institute for Civic and Community Engagement, applauded the collaborative relationships between Fisher and the Greater Rochester community.

“This recognition belongs just as much to our community as it does to Fisher. We could not have achieved this classification without the partners who open their doors, share their expertise, and work alongside us every day. We are committed to deepening these relationships, continuing to grow together in service to our region, and expanding our collective impact,” said Cooper.

The application for the 2029 Community Engagement Classification will be available January 2027. Applications will be due April 2028, and the announcement of the newly designated campuses will be made in January 2029.