Thousands of service hours, hundreds of research projects, and numerous community partnerships have contributed to the University of Miami receiving the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University first received the classification in 2015, and institutions must reapply every 10 years to affirm their continued commitment to and enhancement of community-engaged activities.
Applying for this classification is voluntary and involves a rigorous application and review process, requiring the University to document its commitment to community engagement across research, teaching, grant work, volunteer initiatives, and other collaborative efforts that connect the institution with the broader community.
The classification recognizes colleges and universities that actively partner with their surrounding communities, creating a mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources. The designation emphasizes collaboration, meaningful engagement, and a shared commitment to addressing urgent societal challenges.
“Achieving reclassification in community engagement affirms Carnegie’s recognition of UM’s continued commitment to advancing student civic learning, promoting community-based research, fostering reciprocal partnerships, building institutional commitments to engagement, and preparing our students to be engaged citizens committed to advancing the public good,” said Robin Bachin, assistant provost for civic and community engagement at the University’s College of Arts and Sciences, who led the team through the application process.
The University’s Office of Civic and Community Engagement (CCE) helps enhance the institution’s relationships with the community by building a network of partners, developing new courses, and creating new initiatives for community-based projects.
One of CCE’s community partners is Miami Homes for All (MHFA), a nonprofit organization focused on ensuring Miami-Dade County residents have access to affordable housing.
The University and MHFA have collaborated on several projects for nearly a decade, including the Community Scholars in Affordable Housing program, with the University helping to advance research, document displacement, and elevate the voices of impacted residents, combining academics with community needs.
“The University of Miami's Carnegie Community Engagement reclassification is a powerful affirmation of the work we've experienced firsthand,” said Daniela Roger, communications manager at MHFA. “It validates the authenticity of our partnership and reinforces that UM's approach to collaboration is not symbolic—it is intentional, consistent, and grounded in community priorities.”
For Roger, what sets the University of Miami apart goes beyond the work itself.
“The University of Miami doesn’t position themselves as separate from the community,” Roger said. “They are an integral part of it. They understand that being in Miami means actively contributing to its well-being and growth.”
CCE also helps bring civic engagement into the classroom by supporting more than 600 community-engaged learning courses to more than 2,500 enrolled students per year, contributing an excess of 150,000 hours of community service.
“The civic courses enable students to see how to translate classroom learning into real-world problem-solving skills to address society’s most pressing issues,” Bachin said. “Often the experiences students have working with community partners lead to internships and even jobs.”
Students are encouraged to get involved with community service opportunities through the Butler Center for Service and Leadership, including the student-led Get Out the Vote campaign, which promotes civic participation such as voter registration, education, and mobilization.
“We want students to see Miami not just as a campus but as their home,” said Kimberly Moncada, director of the Butler Center. “From their first year, it is important that they learn about and connect with the communities that shape the city. We also hope to highlight the wide range of career opportunities in civic and community engagement, encouraging students to view service not only as an experience but also as a potential professional pathway and a lifelong commitment.”
The Carnegie reclassification stretches beyond student affairs. UHealth – University of Miami Health System and the Miller School of Medicine both contributed to this recognition by serving the South Florida community and beyond with high-quality, compassionate health care, conducting innovative research, educating the next generation, and promoting health and well-being.
Joel H. Samuels, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, credits the University faculty and staff members and students for “countless hours of interdisciplinary collaboration and for making community engagement central to who we are.”
“Our mission is to prepare students to be civically minded individuals who make valuable contributions to their communities by applying experiential learning and research to solving problems, thoughtfully and innovatively. The recognition from Carnegie affirms that we are staying true to this mission and reinforces our commitment to better serving our greater community,” Samuels said.
