Sam Houston State University (SHSU) has been recognized for its commitment to community engagement, receiving the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. This marks 16 years since SHSU first earned this distinction, which is considered a leading framework for assessing and recognizing community engagement efforts in U.S. higher education.
The classification is awarded by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. It highlights SHSU’s ongoing work in integrating community involvement into its academic programs.
“Community engagement is infused into SHSU’s curriculum to ensure that students understand the relevance of what they are learning and how it can contribute to making life better,” said Lee Miller, director of the Center for Community Engagement. “Faculty work with community partners to employ their research expertise to help meet real-world challenges. Through teaching and research, SHSU is increasingly engaged with the community it serves.”
To qualify for this recognition, SHSU’s Center for Community Engagement reviewed activities from departments, colleges, and student organizations since its last classification cycle.
“This recognition reflects how Sam Houston State University faculty, staff and students work alongside communities to support learning, address challenges and create lasting impact. Community engagement is central to who we are as a university,” said University President Alisa White.
The Center for Community Engagement at SHSU acts as a hub for campus-community partnerships through initiatives focused on partnership development, faculty support, and student opportunities. The center aims to strengthen civic engagement across campus and maintain national recognition received from the Carnegie Foundation since 2010.
The Carnegie Classifications serve as an important tool used by policymakers and researchers to categorize colleges and universities in the United States. In February 2022, ACE and the Carnegie Foundation announced plans to update these classifications so they better represent today’s diverse postsecondary institutions.
The Carnegie Foundation was established by Congress in 1906 with a mission focused on driving change in education. Its initiatives include creating widely-used assessment tools such as TIAA-CREF, GRE exams, Pell Grants, and establishing systems like the Carnegie Classifications aimed at promoting economic mobility through education.
