Southern Methodist University is proud to announce that it has earned the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement, a prestigious national designation recognizing commitment to community partnerships, civic engagement, and measurable public impact. This designation affirms SMU’s deep and sustained commitment to working collaboratively with local, regional, and global communities to generate knowledge, advance equitable outcomes, and contribute to the public good.
What Is the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement?
The Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement is administered by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Institutions voluntarily apply for this classification by submitting evidence of meaningful and sustained partnerships with communities that go beyond traditional service activities. The designation highlights:
- Robust community-campus collaborations that are reciprocal and mutually beneficial;
- Civic engagement embedded across curricula, co-curricula, research, and scholarship; and
- Demonstrable impact, measured through community-defined outcomes as well as institutional assessment.
Earning this classification involves a rigorous self-study and documentation process that compels institutions to reflect on their engagement practices, structures, and outcomes. It is not an accreditation, but rather a national acknowledgement of excellence in community engagement that signals to partners, funders, prospective students, and peers that a university is a committed civic actor.
This achievement reflects the dedication and collaborative spirit of faculty, staff, students, and community partners across SMU. Special recognition goes to the Carnegie Elective Classification application committee, whose thoughtful work made this submission possible:
- Belle Diaz, Engage Dallas Graduate Assistant, Residence Life and Student Housing, Division of Student Affairs
- Dr. Wendelin Donahue, Director of Community Engagement, Media and Community Relations, Development and External Affairs
- Dr. Dustin Grabsch, Assistant Provost for Undergraduate Engagement and Success, Office of the Provost
- Dr. Toni Harrison-Kelly, Director of Recruitment, Retention, and Alumni Affairs, Office of the Dean, Simmons School of Education and Human Development
- Dr. Dayna Oscherwitz, Associate Provost for Institutional Planning, Office of the Provost
- Audryanna Reed, Associate Director of High-Impact Practices (former), Residence Life and Student Housing, Division of Student Affairs
In addition, we extend heartfelt thanks to all the community and campus partners who submitted data, shared narratives, and provided insights that strengthened our application. Your partnership and trust are foundational to SMU’s community engagement efforts.
What This Means for SMU’s Future
Achieving the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement is both a celebration and a call to action. It validates SMU’s existing work and positions the institution to deepen and expand engagement efforts in the years ahead. With this designation, SMU:
- Reinforces its role as a place-based institution in Dallas and the broader region;
- Enhances capacity for collaborative research that addresses community-identified needs; and
- Strengthens educational experiences that prepare students for civic and professional leadership.
As SMU continues to foster innovative partnerships that generate measurable public impact, this recognition serves as a milestone marking how far we’ve come, and how much more there is to do together.
Join us for our book club, which will center on two core texts:
