UK selected for 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 20, 2026) — The University of Kentucky has been selected as one of the institutions nationwide to receive the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, a prestigious elective designation that recognizes colleges and universities demonstrating deep, sustained commitment to community engagement.
The classification, awarded by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education, highlights institutions that meaningfully collaborate with community partners to address public needs, enhance student learning and generate positive social impact. UK’s selection reflects its longstanding partnerships across the Commonwealth that connect teaching, research and service to advance Kentucky’s communities.
“As Kentucky’s flagship land-grant institution, community engagement is an indispensable component of our mission to advance our state,” said UK Provost Robert S. DiPaola. “I am deeply proud of our people for their unwavering commitment to creating new partnerships and strengthening existing ones to help build a stronger and healthier community for all, and this recognition is a testament to their dedication and perseverance.”
The Carnegie Community Engagement Classification is based on a rigorous institutional self-study that examines how engagement is embedded across an institution’s mission, culture and operations, including partnerships, curricular engagement and community impact.
UK is among more than 230 colleges and universities selected for the 2026 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.”
To learn more about the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification and see the full list of selected institutions, read the full announcement.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.