Florida Atlantic University (FAU) has been awarded the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification for 2026, recognizing its commitment to community engagement. The classification is given by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. FAU first received this designation in 2020, and its recent reconfirmation highlights ongoing efforts to work with local partners.
With this latest recognition, FAU becomes one of only 11 universities in the United States to hold three Carnegie Foundation designations: the Community Engagement Classification, “R1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production,” and “Opportunity College and University.”
“Community engagement and strong local partnerships are central to Florida Atlantic’s continued rise,” said FAU President Adam Hasner. “This distinction affirms our momentum, and we are grateful to our growing network of community partners who support our mission as their hometown university.”
The Carnegie Community Engagement Classification has served as a framework for assessing institutional community engagement in U.S. higher education for nearly two decades. It encourages colleges and universities to align their activities with community-engaged work, emphasizing partnerships that benefit scholarship, research, teaching, civic responsibility, and address societal issues.
In 2026, a total of 277 institutions currently hold the designation—237 earned it during this cycle while 40 were classified in 2024. Among those recognized in 2026, there are both new recipients and those previously classified; specifically, 48 institutions received it for the first time while 189 had held it before. The cohort includes public institutions, private colleges and universities, as well as Minority Serving Institutions.
FAU’s current classification will remain valid until 2032.
